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Updated: May 31, 2009, 3:37 am	Share    Print    Email

Doug Teitelbaum, Khaliah Ali, and Gaspar Rosario at HOPE. Photo by Katrina Lovett

Famed Singer Don McLean drove his Chevy - or limo - to Water Mill Friday night to help celebrate the inaugural HOPE Summer Benefit for Harris Obesity Prevention Effort at NYU. Guests including Jackie Harris-Hochderg, Tim and Dr. Evan Adler, Jonathan Tisch, and Lizzie Rudnick came together in the intimate tent on the lawn of Traie and Doug Teitelbaum with honoree Khalia Ali who was also promoting her new book, "Fighting Weight." Tropically themed cocktails - we liked the key lime martini, and hors d'oeuvres got the conversation warmed up before everyone moved into the main area of the tent for a generous buffet dinner.

After dinner, singer-songwriter Don McLean took the stage for a set that had guests leading by example as they burned off dinner by dancing to the lively music including favorite, "American Pie".

Charles and Diane Holmes hosted their annual summer fete on the enormous veranda of the magnificent Georgian mansion on their sprawling estate "Cryptomeria" overlooking the National Links. Some 300 guests wondered through the park-like gardens of the great home which is profiled in Gary Lawrance and Anne Surchin's beautiful tome "Houses of the Hamptons" which focuses on the grand homes of the gilded age in the Hamptons.

It was no surprise that the guests list included a number of other prominent residents of the great homes profiled by Lawrance and Surchin among them Mr. and Mrs. William McKnight III who once called Woolden Manor home, Greg Connors and Donald Burns who reside in the extraordinary Old Trees estate on Lake Agawam (which can be yours for $48 million), Julia Carter of Ocean Castle, and Willi Salm who resides at the Port of Missing Men.

Sipping champagne and slurping oysters were local historian Mary Cummings, Chip Dineen, Joseph Tyree, Dorian Mullen, Barbara Rossi, John Yunis, Catherine and Mathew Krysinski, Ann and Arnold Jurdem, Leonard Barton, Jeffrey Katz, Kristi Witker and Dick Coons, Debbie Bancroft, and Mildred Brinn.

Jacqueline Cofield, Juamaane' N'Namdi, Wendy Wachtel, and George N'Namdi at Walk Tall Gallery. Photo by Kurt Leggard

Park Place Passage in East Hampton was a beehive of activity with two major art shows opening on either side of the tiny pass through. Vered Gallery featured the very bold works of Michelle Marie, Winter Trees on Oak Panel Boxes and sculptures, and a never previously shown collection of works by Andy Warhol from the private collection of his longtime Interview magazine colleague Fred Hughes.

Following the show, Frances Hayward, R. Couri Hay, Jackie Rogers, Tony Ingrao, and Randy Kemper hosted a private dinner for Michelle Marie at the new French nightclub Le Flirt. Oh la la!

Across the passage, Wendy Wachtel's Walk Tall Gallery was the spot for the official Art for Life pre-party and exhibition of contemporary art, "Forms of Abstraction", from G N'Namdi gallery in NYC making it easy as pie for the VIP crowd to shuttle back and forth with cocktails in hand. The evening was hosted by G.R. N'Namdi and Juammane N'Namdi. Hennesy, Walk Tall Gallery, Green Magazine, and yours truly Hamptons.com sponsored the evening of art. Delicious morsels were donated by The Golden Pear and Green Magazine with wine provided by Barefoot wines.

Artists Ed Clarke, Leron Wilson, and Danny Simmons were mixing through the crowds answering questions and commenting on the necessity for art education for young people. Among those on hand to toast the artists were Russell Simmons and girlfriend Porschla Coleman, Jill and Bobby Zarin, Caroline Lieberman, Anne Easton, Cynthia and Dan Lufkin, Jada Yuan, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Sam Bolton, Vanessa and Kurt Leggard, Lynn Matsuoka, Pamela Willoughby and scores more.

The Pros at Hoops 4 Hope. Photo by Kurt Leggard

Hoops 4 Hope brought a number of well-known figures from the world of Professional Basketball for a Saturday morning clinic with some 150 youngsters at the Southampton Recreation Center. On hand to give the next generation of athletes some serious pointers were Rod Thorn, General Manger of the Nets, Lawrence Frank, Nets head coach, and Larry Brown, former Pistons coach. Admission to the clinic was a pair of gently used sneakers which Hopes 4 Hope, a not for profit organization dedicated to supporting youth development in southern Africa, will distribute to young people in Africa.

The young attendees were clearly enthralled listening to stories about their idols and learning not only how to improve their game but a sense of responsibility for their fellow youth. Later that evening well-known sports writer Mike Lupica and his wife Taylor hosted a glittering cocktail party and auction of sports memorabilia at the Bridgehampton home.

Talk about a super Saturday! Granted the weather was beyond hot but the rain held off for the exciting day of shopping and celeb spotting at the 10th annual Super Saturday to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) at Nova's Ark Project in Water Mill.

Gabby and Stefania De Felice with Donna Karan at Super Saturday 10. Photo by Katrina Lovett

Kelly Ripa, Donna Karan, and InStyle Magazine Editor in Chief Charla Lawhon, hosted the fabulous event which raised over $3 million for OCRF. In the crowd of 1500 savvy shoppers we spotted heiress Anna Anisimova, Tichina Arnold from the hit show "Everybody Hates Chris", Fabiola Beracasa, Diem Brown of MTV's The Real World, Lorraine Bracco and Edie Falco of HBO's The Sopranos, model Christy Turlington Burns, Bethenny Frankel of The Apprecntice Martha Stewart, Judith and Rudy Giuliani, Shoshanna Gruss, Dayle Haddon, Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View, Clinton Kelly, Mandy Moore, Dennis Basso, Tinsley Mortimer, model Petra Nemcova, Howard Ster's fiancée Beth Ostrosky, Broadway Diva extroidinaire Bernadette Peters, fashion columnist Hal Rubenstein, Reverend Run, mogul Russell Simmons, Hana Soukupova, designer Carmen Marc Valvo, and stylist Rachel Zoe.

The much anticipated fashion garage sale included items from over 200 of the most prominent designers including: Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Vera Wang, Theory, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Diane Von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Helmut Lang, Bill Blass, Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Zac Posen. Guests played for luxury prizes at the Bluefly.com Arcade, relaxed in the Fortunoff and Stirrings Summer Lounge, and enjoyed manicures from Essie and pedicures by Buff Spa in the Schick Intuition Plus Feet Treat Tent.

QVC broadcasted live from the event from 1:00PM - 3:00PM. At-home shoppers tuned-in to QVC Presents...Super Saturday Live to get a taste of the event and to score great deals from big names in designer clothing, accessories and beauty. Shoppers can also log onto Bluefly.com to indulge in the official Super Saturday Aftersale during the week following the event.

For the young and young at heart the kids section of the event was beyond anything we've seen so far from the fabulous imagination of Ms. Donna Karan. There was a carousel and a variety of carnival rides, face painting, and a Bratz dress up photo shoot for the inner-model for girls under 12. Crafts and story time was the hit of the day at the Divalysscious Moms tent. Founder Lyss Stern, who gave birth to her youngest child Oliver just three short weeks ago, was glowing. Children and their parents created crafts of all sorts and Brooklyn Babies took the stage.

The Bridgehampton Polo Club along with chic boutique alice + olivia hosted the coveted Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge at JetOne Jets Field late Saturday afternoon. Team Black Watch (Neil Hirsch, Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras, Facundo Pieres, and Gustavo Usandisaga) defeated Team Equuleus (Joe DiMenna, Magoo LaPrida, Cristian LaPrida, and Francisco Lanusse) in a tight match-up.

Sporting fabulous fashions - possibly found earlier at Super Saturday 10 - were B. Smith and Dan Gasby, Cathy Moriarty, Charlie Walk, Vanessa and Donald Trump Jr. with their daughter Kai, Sessa Von Ricthtofen, the always eventful Sir Ivan, and Bethany Frankel.

Always one of the most festive events of summer, the Annual Tent Party on the grounds of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Southampton had a very special significance this year as it marked the 100th Anniversary of the cornerstone laying of the historic church dedicated on July 28, 1907.

The party, a major event on the summer social calendar, also kicked-off the Centennial Year of special programs culminating with a grand celebration in 2008 to mark the beloved Church's anniversary. The Most Reverend Bishop William Murphy with concelebrants Bishop Peter Libasci, Rev. Jeffrey Madley, Monsignor Edmond Trench, Rev. Edward Kiernan, Rev. Paul Dahm and Deacon John Moran celebrated a special Mass prior to the party which not only drew longtime parishioners but former Southamptonites from as far away as California.

Following the service, over 600 guests packed the tent for a delightful celebration of the beloved church including Mayor Mark Epley and his wife Marianne, Christine McManus and Phillip Prianti, Bruce Grier, Susan Madonia, Gregory D'Elia, Peggy and Bill Bousson, Marianne and Jim Nugent, Maureen Dinger, Andrew and Grace Lee, Brad and Catherine Allan, Davis Gaffga, Southampton trustee Bonnie Cannon with son Spencer, Eileen and Robert Essay, Jon and Linda Platt and multi generations of the Lynch, Hildreth, Jagger, Norsic, Rist and Gilmartin families!

Heading up the effort for this gala kick off to a year long celebration of the revered Southampton landmark are: Pat Corrigan, Joan Heinz, Patricia Jordan, Peg Jordan, Michael Kent, Mary Steinbrecher, Fred Weinfurt and Pastor Father Jeff Madley.

Dita von Teese at Voom Zoo at the Watermill Center. Photo by Katrina Lovett

As evening emerged, Watermill Project for Voom Zoo, the 14th Annual Summer Benefit celebrating the first full year of successful artistic programs at the center founded by Robert Wilson, began the nights festivities. The weather complimented the hot Voom Zoo motto and Wild Chic dress code evoked primal homage to Wilson's recent video portraits of animals. Horns, furs, and spots were spied throughout the crowd on Megan Ruddy, Deborah Schoeneman, Nicolette Ramirez, and Corinna Pieloch, though burlesque maven Dita von Teese opted for less as she perched on the swing in glittering silver pasties reminiscent of her own Voom Portrait by Robert Wilson as she beckoned guests in for dinner to the sound of opera. Needless to say, it worked!

Dita's Portrait as well as artwork by Todd Eberle, Douglas Gordon, David Gamble, and Spencer Tunick as well as a 2008 Lexus Hybrid were available in the live and silent auctions led by Simon de Pury. The party spread across the spacious grounds of the center, designed for international, multi-disciplinary studies in the arts and humanities and was honorarily chaired by Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Annie Leibovitz, David Lynch, and Viktor & Rolf.

Russell Simmons and Danny Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (RPAF) raised $1.4 million dollars at their Eighth Annual "ART FOR LIFE" Not So Mellow Yellow East Hampton fundraising gala to benefit the organization, which supports under served New York City youth through arts education. The sold out event, and one of the hottest summer tickets, held at Russell Simmons' East Hampton home welcomed close to 900 leaders from the entertainment, arts, business, and philanthropic communities.

Simon de Pury, Tangie Murray, Russell Simmons, Porschla Coleman, Danny Simmons, and Alaina Simone at Art for Life. Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

Event honorees Forest Whitaker with wife Keisha, Alvin Ailey's Judith Jamison, The Brooklyn Academy of Music executives Karen Brooks Hopkins and Joseph V. Melillo, entrepreneur Tracy Maitland, and Unifund's David Rosenberg hobnobbed with guests Reverend Run and family from MTV's "Run's House", G.R. N'Namdi and Juammane N'Namdi , model Petra Nemcova, Lyor Cohen, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Kevin Liles, Chamillionaire, Cathy Hughes, Ally Sheedy, Nia Long, Deborah Cox, Wendy Wachtel, Rocco Dispirito, author Terry McMillan, artist Kehinde Wiley, Jaci and Morris Reid, Victor Mathews and others.

For the first time ever, a special wardrobe was created in honor of this year's color theme "Not So Mellow Yellow," and fashion and accessories designers came on board donating yellow pieces from their personal collections. Designers Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino, B Michael, Giuseppe Zanotti and Lorraine Schwartz were some of the fashion designers who gave gorgeous pieces to the event's luxury auction.

Back again this year was one of Rush Philanthropic's Community Grants Recipients, the Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band, who kicked off the program, entertaining attendees at the close of the cocktail hour with a triumphant performance of Rihanna's newest hit song "Umbrella". The upbeat affair was catered by Ronnie Davis and Great Performances with Executive Chef Chris Harkness. Delish!

World-renowned Simon de Pury, chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company, added excitement as the gala's auctioneer rousing the crowd to bid on items ranging from a trip to the Vatican that went for a mere $35k, a South African Safari adventure for $25k, High Tea at the French Embasy in New York for $24k, a Range Rover package for $38k, and a sexy Victoria's Secret package for $32k.

RVS Gallery hosted a very special showing of international artists new to the East End, Turkish painter Renee Niklan and Czech born sculptor Alex Kveton. Niklan's envelope themed exhibit explores the mystery of the message contained in an envelope while Kevton displayed sophisticated curvilinear forms in his metal sculptures. Among those on hand at the opening were Stewart Lane and wife Bonnie Comley, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Jill and Bobby Zarin, Colleen and Gary Rein, Ann Liguori, Liz Derringer and Sheila Rosenblum.

Across the street Project Hot Shot the second event of the Parrish Museums incredibly successful program The Project drew in hundreds of the younger set for the debut of US NOW, a twilight show of over 40 digital portraits of life in 2007 contributed by members, local artists and adventurous amateurs. The oversized images were displayed on clotheslines strung across the Parrish lawns. Among the many creative efforts a stand out was artist Rick Wenner's Fire Leap in which the artist was captured in flight over a blazing fire bowl.

The Project's Jackie Pizza and Jessica Ferrari have continued their partnership with Rock 'n Renew and presented a number of live performances bringing together reggae, hip-hop and rock artists featuring Team Ambassador, Lucky Luciano and Oliver Lankard.

The evening was once again a stellar event thanks to regular sponsors Duck Walk Vineyards, Southampton Ales & Lagers, Smart Water and Watermill Party and The Project's great volunteer staff.

Jaci and Morris L. Reid at Hollywood in the Hamptons. Photo by Kurt Leggard

Rounding out the weekend's excitement Hollywood in the Hamptons on Sunday was an elegant brunch and interactive dialogue event at the home of Jaci and Morris Reid in East Hampton. The brightest minds in politics merged for the early afternoon event with the Creative Coalition, a group of local leading art and entertainment advocates.

Sipping Nuvo and enjoying sushi from Sen in Sag Harbor on the lawn, actor Kerry Washington, of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" and "The Last King of Scotland" fame, hosted the event moderated by pundit Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. of The McLaughlin Group. Panelists included "The Nation's" columnists and author Eric Alterman, Republican strategist Ed Rollins, and Bloomberg News columnist and author Margaret Carlson.

Attendees included Deborah Cox, Bryan-Michael Cox, David Moscow, Darrell Smith, Will Toale, Libby Langdon, Wendy Diamond, Mauri Pioppo, BJ Coleman, Jocelyn Taylor, and The Creative Coalition's Executive Director Robin Bronk.

With reporting by Edward Callaghan and Katrina Lovett.