out and about
Added: September 14, 2007, 10:28 am	Share    Print    Email

That glorious but ominous harbinger of fall known as Fashion Week is mercifully over leaving nothing behind along Seventh Avenue but a trail of pins, Polaroid's, and for the world's top fashion press, including our own Nicole B. Brewer, swollen feet and a dozen notepads of what we will be wearing - or lusting for - come spring.

Nora Ephron and Nick Pileggi Photo by PatrickMcMullan.com

Summer is still with us despite the claims of certain magazines and TV shows that would have us think that golden time was over when share houses emptied on Labor Day weekend. Hello! Don't they remember from their 4th grade class that summer ends September 21st with the Autumnal Equinox. Still time to grab the SPF 50 and loll on the shoreline as the waves lap gently, which is what we did this weekend at the World's #3 beach (thank you Dr. Beach) Coopers Beach in Southampton and rested up to party.

Taking a breather, we were able to pick up some great dish such as the news of the upcoming salute to screen legend Patricia Neal, Wall Street whiz Shirl Penney and our neighbors Count and Countess Alexandre de Lesseps, Hooray for Hollywood that Patricia Watt is producing for The Auditory Oral School of New York at the Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Our gal pal Patti (as we call her) brought the awesome tribute to Janis Joplin, "Love, Janis" to the New York stage and masterminded all the great musical events for Guild Hall's 75th anniversary last summer (and went largely unrecognized). But trust me, with the lineup she's organized for this pull-out-the-stops, star studded cavalcade, the tongues will be wagging from coast to coast.

She'll need two Hamptons Luxury Liners just to bring in the stellar Hamptons gang to the Steiner Studios, the largest soundstage on the East Coast: Alec Baldwin, Lucie Arnaz and Larry Luckinbill, Bob Balaban, Marisa Berenson, Cornelia Sharp Bregman and Marty Bregman, Tovah Feldshuh, Dina Merrill and Ted Hartley, Rex Reed, Marty Richards. Cliff Robertson, Betsey and Budd Schulberg, Marian Seldes, Elisa and Joe Stein, Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, Tony and Gen Walton, Douglas and Ethel Watt and a host of dynamic committee ladies including Robin Cofer, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Blanche Binder, Greta Blackburn, Joanne Borts, Colette Bryce, Dame Josephine D. Hall, Joan Kaye, Countess Luann de Lesseps, Kari Matz, Deborah Mello, Gail Parker, Dr. Janet Shefts and Valerie Smaldone.

David Steiner, who founded the enormous studio, is chairing the gala and Ava Astaire McKenzie (daughter of the genius Fred Astaire) and her husband Richard McKenzie are the Honorary Chairs.

And if that is not enough for even the most jaded cineaste or Broadway baby, there's Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, Mrs. Robert Altman, Hon. Adolfo Carrion, Arlene Dahl, Andy Griffith, Tammy Grimes, Linda Hamilton, Rosemary Harris, Celeste Holm, Elaine Kaufman, Rue McClanahan, Hon. Marty Markowitz, Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Cliff Robertson, Leba and Neil Sedaka, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, Hon. Scott Stringer, Betsy Von Furstenberg, and the list keeps growing. If you'd like to see some good old fashioned Hollywood glamour not the tackola red carpet fashion faux pas that you see these days, this is the place to be November 1st.

Also, we got the skinny on the Legally Blonde publicity juggernaut masterminded by the much respected husband and wife producing team Stewart Lane and Bonnie Comley. The savvy duo who have brought creative marketing to the Great Way have just cut a BIG deal with MTV to broadcast an entire performance of the wildly successful musical to air in October.

Though MTV is hardly known to even acknowledge Broadway, unless of course a major music or TV personality is starring, several network honchos, including host Kurt Loder, are huge fans of "Legally Blonde." Loder, in fact, gave the show a glowing review, and his quote is featured prominently in the musical's advertising. Brilliant tie in, as MTV has a lock on the Legally Blonde demographic, the 15-25 year old females!

I was totally bummed at missing the opening of "Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection", a tremendous display of the costumes and memorabilia of the preeminent girl group The Supremes at The Long Island Museum of Art in Stony Brook. I was even more bummed that the svelte and sexy Miss Wilson was there herself to inaugurate the exhibition and I missed her.

But, I was thrilled to hear from Southampton producer Beverly Camhe that she is working with the soulful diva on a show about the former Supremes life. Bev plans to break the show in London when the gorgeous sequined silk and satin gowns go on display at the Tate Museum. Baby Love is going to have to get a flight to the UK fast.

Don't expect to see much of our neighbor Kelsey Grammer in the coming months. The former Frasier star is now playing a news anchor on the much praised "Back to You" with Emmy winning co-star Patricia Heaton.

Golf star Greg Norman (aka The Shark) who made a huge fortune with his eponymously named golf wear line has been keeping serious company with Chris Evert since splitting with his wife of over twenty years but his estranged Laura Norman is getting on with her life and setting up house in Southampton. She's just closed on a newly built two-story home on Moses Lane in Southampton for a little over $4,000,000. The five-bedroom, 41/2-bath traditional-style residence includes six fireplaces, verandas, pool with a waterfall, and a pool house with a kitchen.

Writers Nora Ephron and Nick Pileggi reportedly pocketed a cool $200,000 for the use of their luxurious six-bedroom home for August 1 through Labor Day from the wife of another famous couple involved in a bitter split, Heather Mills. Not so pricey when you consider the neighbors - Steven Spielberg and clan across the street and Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn's famed "Grey Gardens," nearby.

Getting ready to hit the road together are the unlikely duo of master chef Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now that the Pasta Prince has severed his ties with the Food Network which brought the portly, clog wearing Batali into the homes of millions, he has signed up with PBS for a series of culinary and cultural tours to be filmed for the broadcaster. First stop is Spain and Gywnnie who spent almost a year there in her school days was just tickled to play tour guide for Batali.

Is it Mom's cooking? Just learned that Daniella Rich and her hubby of three years Richard Kilstock purchased a new pad in mom Denise Rich's tony Fifth Avenue building. She won't have to go far if she and Richard spat.

Right after the Labor Day holiday, it was "Good Morning, Eliza Doolittle and Googie Gomez!" at the Roundabout Theatre Company rehearsal studios in Manhattan where movie stars Claire Danes and Rosie Perez, respectively, met members of the press at a morning reception to promote their upcoming appearances in the Roundabout's revival of George Bernard Shaw's classic Pygmalion for Clare and Terrence McNally's 1970s gay bathhouse comedy The Ritz for Rosie. McNally one of the East End's most beloved playwrights was positively tickled at having his 30 year old farce given a top class revival.

More good news for Broadway fans! Harvey Fierstein will be coming back to the Great White Way in multiple roles - as producer, book writer, and star of "A Catered Affair" with the wonderful Faith Prince and Tom Wopat already signed to co-star. The amazingly gifted John Bucchino is penning the music and John Doyle who staged the stunning revival of "Sweeney Todd" will direct the show which will inaugurate the 2007-2008 season at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre later this month prior to coming to New York in early spring.

Funny and heartbreaking, it's the story of a couple deciding whether to spend their life savings on a family business or on a lavish catered affair for their only daughter's marriage. Brooklyn-born, Harvey's earned Tony Awards each time he's been nominated — and in four categories: Best Play and Best Actor (Torch Song Trilogy, 1983), Best Book (La Cage aux Folles, 1984) and Best Actor in a Musical (Hairspray, 2003). You can bet, he'll be on everyone's ballots come awards time!

So glad to see the resurgence of fashion in Southampton the last few months. Style Paris by Susan Sutherland brought a sophisticated Gallic luxe to Jobs Lane this summer and now finally Brooks Brothers Country Club has stocked the shelves - at least the men's side - with their Golden Fleece line and some really timeless Loro Piana blazers, sure to wind up in the closets of the East End's more stylish guys. Word is that the women's department will feature the venerable haberdasher's new Black Fleece line created by the avant garde Thom Browne. Sadly, the men's version will not be carried there - at least for now.

Hello Mickey Drexler! The signs on the slated to be opened this summer J. Crew Collection now read "Coming Soon, Fashionably Late." I would have thought that now that Drexler is a certified East Ender having snared the Andy Warhol estate this summer, we might see a little action in the Main Street, Southampton store, but not yet. We can hope.

Seen Around the Villages

Caught the gorgeous Beth Ostrosky poring over the sale racks at LF Boutique on Main Street in Southampton. Thrilled to see that even the fiancé of multi-millionaire King of All Media, Howard Stern likes a good bargain now and then.

Over on Jobs Lane Anderson Cooper and a pal did the burger and ribs thing at The Driver's Seat prior to the Gray Fox heading off to Iraq for some frontline reporting. Barbara Walters was also at the popular local hang but as far as we know was only taking off to 66th Street and no, she wasn't reading Rosie's new book that hints Barbara should move on.

Tommy Lee, who has been feasting of late at 75 Main, should have cancelled his trip to Vegas where Kid Rock sucker punched him at a music event. To the best of my knowledge no celeb has been pummeled at 75 Main. Come back Tommy, we'll take care of you.

For more information, click here.

You have the stories and we hope you will share them with Jennifer and our readers each week! So next time Barbara Walters or Sarah Jessica Parker stops in your store, Diddy or Billy Joel grab your peaches, and you spot Kathy Hilton or Vera Wang looking fabulous somewhere, let us know and Jennifer will share it with our readers. Got a juicy bit to dish? Just send a quick email to ispy@hamptons.com, call 631-734-2393, or fax 631-734-2385.