Southampton - As I sit here on my flight bound for Vegas I look back on last week and it's almost a blur. For a week in winter in the sleepy Hamptons, it just overwhelms me.

Kitty Gumbs, Katherine Knarr, Jesse Giordano, Missy Frey, and Barbara Rasmussen.

Last Saturday I gave a "small" cocktail party at my home for 60 of my nearest and dearest. It was a late holiday cocktail party affectionately known as "Hampsgiving." This is a yearly event now (now in its ninth time around the block). Guests came in from Manhattan, the Hudson Valley, the North Shore of Long Island and from all over the Hamptons. Out of town lodging was provided by The Inn @ Quogue, Wait Staff by Jennie Lee Cater-Staff, the Live Band was NOIZ which can be seen weekly at Dockers Waterside on Dune Road in season.

It is a towering evening with buzz leading up to it for weeks. It consists of an entire weekend's worth of activities, first the actual party, and then a formal brunch the following day. The party is a "Great Gatsby" meets the movie "CLUE" type of a scene, with a very heavy emphasis on fashion and door prizes. Guests are offered non de plume stickers at the door and encouraged in every way to step outside themselves and be outrageous for an evening, and I must say very few disappoint.

Some guests arrive Friday night and do wineries and see the Hamptons sights during the day on Saturday, but by 3 p.m., guests are either primping in their homes or their hotel rooms, or are nervously sitting on the Jitney dying to get to the Hamptons and start to get dressed!.

Tanya from Noiz Band and Larry Hoffman.

For the last few years I have regularly set up a discounted block of rooms for my guests at The Inn @ Quogue in Historic Quogue Village, taking 10 + rooms. Everyone is drawn to the Historic old world glamour of the Inn @ Quogue and it is a perfect 15 minutes from my home. The Inn is always a bit quirky but was a circus this year, and some problems with the rooms and reservations created a bit of drama, but, hey, any event needs some drama. The good news is that some guests who did not previously know each other well forged new friendships in the limo on their way to the party.

It might be time to switch up on accommodations for guests for my blow-out party held each summer, which I co-host with Eric Wesley Bolyard of Kitchen Trattoria/Kitchen and Bistro Restaurant's in St James - maybe the Atlantic Hotel in Southampton this year.

Tiffany Magalski Bruno coordinated a Champagne Pre-Party in her suite, and had the make-up artist "Michael" from the Mac Make-Up Counter at Macys, Hampton Bays, come and style eight of the ladies. Ladies - if you are looking for something fun and different to have at home before your next event, this is it, Michael is wildly talented, very fun and engaging, and this was such a cool pre game get together for the girls. With champagne and a little knosh, and everyone getting ready for the event together, from what I was told it was non-stop laughs and they weren't even at the party yet! The make-up was stunning yet not over the top!

Marlene Kellner, Ann Ciardulo, Roberta Rossetti, Suzanne Caldwell.

Some of the cast at this towering House Party - and all dressed to the nines - were Larry Hoffman owner of Dockers Waterside and his guest Missy Frey, Ann Ciardullo from Sotheby's East Hampton, Roberta Rossetti from London Jewelers-East Hampton, Marlene Kellner, formerly of London Jewelers-East Hampton, Suzanne Caldwell, co-owner of Design House of the Hamptons, who was dressed in an outrageous Black Feathered Hat from Anne Moore, Eric Bolyard, Chef of Kitchen Trattoria - St James, Denise Bornshein from The Gossip Round Up on 102.5, Sal Piazzolla and Grant Wilfrey from Hampton Suncare, the unforgettable Cathy Dransfield from Saunders Realty, Brianna Birtles, Publisher of Gotham Magazine, Angela Fioccola whom won best dressed for the evening in a Lady Gaga inspired confection by Theory from Bloomingdales 59th Street. (Kitty Gumbs was an amazing runner up in Armani from Neiman Marcus at Roosevelt Fields) and so many other fabulous guests.

Nicole DiMarco and Angela Fioccola.

It was a night of mayhem with a bleacher set up along one wall of the great room for elevated dancing, the band rocking the roof off, and a night that carried on into the wee, wee hours. The "wee hours" led by Eric Wesley whom refused to let anyone stop dancing or consider going to sleep as he had been late arriving and wanted his fair share of party time no matter what!

The following morning we reconvened for a spectacular sit down three-course Brunch at Muse Restaurant in Watermill in the Citarella Shopping Commons. Chef Matthew Guiffrida, who will be the Guest Chef at the James Beard Foundation in New York City for a special upcoming dinner on March 12 which he is preparing, opened the restaurant to host the private brunch event.

Brunch was a sensation, food spectacular, stars all!

Guests enjoyed Pomegranate and Cava Champagne Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Bellini's, while dining on Chef Matthews eclectic brunch items such as Crème Brulee Stuffed French Toast, (Yes imagine that in your mouth!) By 4 p.m. the last guests had boarded their Jitneys and I returned home for a much deserved collapse!

Sean MKF Bruns and Danijela Skopljak at Bobby Vans in Bridgehampton.

I must confess I took a few days off until re-emerging on Saturday, I had friends out for the night from Manhattan and we headed eastbound. Drinks and dinner at The Lodge in East Hampton, which was awesome, a spinach casserole to die for, a most amazing side dish. They had a great DJ spinning a Studio 54 vibe, and by the time dinner was finished their Winter Wonderland Saturday Party was starting to kick-off, we saw the performer from Cirgue De Soleil do a wild spot lit dance, incorporating a lit-up hula hoop and flaming balls which she swung round her head as she performed. Not your average night out in East Hampton!

We headed west after the Lodge and ended up at Copa Wine Bar in Bridgehampton. I knew they were rumored to be open late, and sure enough they were. Paul Mahos and his Band were there performing but had actually finished up. Upon our arrival, and with a little encouragement from myself and the crowd they fired it back up and did another five song set, including a slamming performance of "Papa was a Rolling Stone." We powered through some high energy dancing, and a cocktail, and then headed home for the night.

Sunday saw myself and my overnight guests having a wonderful lunch at Bobby Vans where I enjoyed an excellent Truffled Chicken Salad Sandwich. After walking Main Street, Bridgehampton the weekend and my long week concluded and I certainly felt thoroughly entertained by it all.

Monday I headed to Manhattan for the NY International Gift Show, and now as mentiond, I am off to Vegas and the Bellagio.

Enjoy yourselves everyone, and get out there, the Hamptons are humming, and you just need to listen for the buzz!