out and about
Added: August 21, 2008, 11:41 am	Share    Print    Email

Katrina and Don Peebles, Douglas Rodriguez, and Tina Louise at the polo match in Bridgehampton this weekend. Photo by Rob Rich

The fabulous (and absolutely fabulous looking let me just say) Tina Louise dropped by the Hamptons.com studio this weekend for an exclusive chat with Gina Glickman as part of our Main Street Series (to air next week) and a bit of Hamptons fun. Her first stop, after getting picked up in NYC from Southampton Limousine, was the Southampton Inn, where I hear she loved the room, and then it was over to Main Street for an interview about her long career and upcoming projects. Hamptons.com publisher, Robert Florio, and fiancée Ellen Cea, joined Tina and together they headed to Two Trees Farm in Bridgehampton for the polo match where they met up with real estate notable, Don Peebles and his wife Katrina. The masses were abuzz and flocked over to say hello and mug for photos with the vivacious actress who graciously posed and chatted politics.

Next stop for the flame-haired icon was the Hamptons Antique Gallery in Bridgehampton for the Steampunk show. Curator of the show Art Donovan, another huge fan, gave Tina a tour and wished her well as she left with Robert and Ellen for dinner at Pierre's. Not wanting to miss anything in the Hamptons, Tina headed out to East Hampton's Guild Hall on Sunday to take in the Larry Rivers exhibition.

With the Kennedy-esque candidacy of Barack Obama, the acclaimed revival of the seminal rock musical, "Hair" and the success of TV's "Mad Men," there's little doubt in my simple little mind we are in a 1960s Redux - a flashback to the generation of peace and love. And if you think I'm off and a little wobbly in my Jimmy Choo's, just take a look at what some of our pals in the Hamptons are up to.

Several weeks ago I ran into that madcap creative wizard of Shelter Island, Simon Doonan, the genius behind Barneys luxe store and his adorable soon to be husband, sculptor Jonathan Adler. Simon was all in a lather about his plans to turn Barney's New York flagship into a psychedelic wonderland with a lot of peace and love for the holiday season this year. The store has taken the decade of the 1960s as the inspiration for its holiday decorations, promotions and exclusive products. Barneys is clearly tapping into what's already a strong national vibe

As it does every year, Barneys commissioned exclusive merchandise tied to the theme. There's a lacquered wood backgammon board with psychedelic designs, a pair of peace and love ornaments by Jonathan Adler, a Fornasetti plate with a gold peace sign, Valextra peace sign key chains, Jennifer Meyer pendants spelling "Save the Planet," "Peace," and "Love," Barneys peace sign umbrellas and organic tote bags, and tie-dye Converse All Stars high-tops.

Flower Children may feel queasy about Barneys slapping peace signs and smiley faces on everything from jewelry to cookies, not to mention Fendi's exclusive large parchment bagette ($2,090) with peace sign key chain ($190), but by now many of them remember more about Yuppies than Yippies. Loomstate for Barneys New York Green recycled tee-shirts with peace signs continue the tie into 1960s ideals. And there's more!

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Doonan said of the products. "We are reaching out to all of our designers and asking them to create a peace sign dress." He named Balenciaga, Lanvin, Phillip Lim, and Alexander Wang as among those the store has contacted.

Ellen Cea and Robert Florio at Two Trees Farm in Bridgehampton for the Saturday afternoon polo match. Photo by Rob Rich

Simon must have been visiting Sir Ivan in his Water Mill castle where the rock star has been putting the finishing touches on his latest release, "I am Peaceman." Indeed, it was Sir Ivan who first told me that this year was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock and the 50th birthday of the creation of the peace sign. The rocker has recorded a passel of 1960s hits and reworked them in his inimitable style that's certain to turn at least several of the tunes into club anthems and chart toppers.

Then of course there is the first ever Hamptons exhibition this weekend of the artwork of John Lennon. Yoko Ono and the Southampton Inn are presenting "Come Together: A look at the Life of John Lennon through His Art." Produced by Legacy Fine Art Productions, this is the largest collection of his works ever assembled and an exhibit that has traveled across the country and around the world, garnering record crowds and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. "Come Together" includes over 100 pieces from 1968-1980, encompassing the final phase of Lennon's Beatles career, his years as a solo artist, his activist and creative partnership with wife Yoko, his five-year hiatus in New York as a stay-at-home dad, and his return to the music scene in 1980, which was cruelly cut short by his murder that year. John Lennon's message of peace, hope and love still resonates worldwide and are at the core of his powerful and provocative artwork.

But the 1960s were also marked by a tremendous anti-war sentiment - much like today - and East Ender Aaron Latham of Urban Cowboy fame has picked up on that and is currently at work shopping a new musical "Revolution on the Roof," with new music by Daniel Shay and Will Manning and songs by Joan Baez. Aaron chronicles the turbulence of the 1960s and recounts an episode in 1969 when he, Sigourney Weaver, Baez, and 2,000 of their pals took over a science building in Stanford to protest the University's doing war work. They occupied the building for nine days before the lab gave up and they won the day. Buzz from folks who caught the three-day run say it's not only timely but a sure winner.

Herbie Hancock, who wowed the crowds at his recent Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center gig, also drew on the era for his ode to 1960s music legend Joni Mitchell. His renditions of her classics snared him the Grammy for Best Album of the Year - not Best Jazz album - Best everything!

Though hardly a regular visitor to The Hamptons, Ang Lee must be mentioned here as well. The cinematic whiz behind the lens of such films as "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Brokeback Mountain" is training his camera next on Woodstock, the event that shook the world. His new film "Taking Woodstock" is based on the memoir by Elliot Tiber who played a vital role in helping the historic 1969 music fest unfold on his neighbor Max Yasgur's farm. The film stars "The Daily Show" alum Demetri Martin as Tiber and Emile Hirsch as a Vietnam vet. Other cast members include Paul Dano, Imelda Staunton and Liev Schreiber -Yum!

Speaking of the 1960s, I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate Leif Hope, the long-time organizer of a real Hamptons' tradition, the annual Celebrity Artists and Writers Softball Game which celebrated its 60th Anniversary this weekend.

As always, the game which pits well-known local artists and writers on the field drew a crowd of over 2,000. This year the game was dedicated to the memory of long-time player Roy Scheider. Just prior to the game, our own contributor John Wegorzewski presented to Brenda Siemer Scheider a posthumous MVP Award that he had designed for Roy, a 14 kt. gold baseball mitt with a rotating ball crafted by Golden Integrity Jewelry Company in New York. Roy's illness had prevented an earlier presentation of the honor so Brenda requested it be given on the pitcher's mound where Roy tossed out the first ball last year. The game was played with the teams wearing commemorative tee-shirts bearing Roy's name.

The Artists and Writers Celebrity Softball game began as a summer picnic on Sundays in the summer of 1948. The first games were played in Wilfrid Zogbaum's front yard by artists such as Franz Kline William de Kooning, Philip Pavia, Jackson Pollack, and Joan Mitchell. Later, in the 1960s and 1970s, writers joined in the fun and soon expanded again to include politicians, actors, musicians, publishers, editors and the occasional TV star.

The game's hall of fame includes Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Ben Bradley, Bill Clinton, Charles Gwathmey, Chevy Chase, Christie Brinkley, Eli Wallach, Ed Burns, Kristin Davis, B Smith, Matthew Broderick, Paul Simon, Peter Jennings, Regis Philbin, Roy Scheider, Yogi Berra, Rudy Giuliani, and Donny Deutsch.

Event guru David Monn did it up big time with his own Olympics kick-off party in Water Mill. Besides the 26-piece band and Chinese pagodas, there was a huge TV screen on the roof to televise the Beijing Olympics, and waiters wore skintight athletic gear. Shun Lee Palace and East Hampton's Laundry catered. Guests included Aby and Samantha Rosen, Martha Stewart, Jonathan Tisch, Rick and Kathy Hilton, Donald Marron, Parker Ladd and Arnold Scaasi, Rory and Elie Tahari, Nicole Miller, and Tom Filicia. At the end of the evening, David revealed it was his birthday and his staff surprised him with a video.

Janie Chase, Chevy Chase, Lori Singer, and Alec Baldwin at the Artists & Writers Game. Photos by John Wegorzewski

Talk about unlikely seatmates, I hear top cop Ray Kelly, City Comptroller Bill Thompson, and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli sat together Saturday in the front row for morning services at the Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach. You'll just have to use your imagination as to what the political rivals were looking at because in an Orthodox house of worship no photos are allowed. Kelly and Thompson, both potential mayoral candidates, were hoping to make a good impression on Rabbi Marc Schneier and his congregants.

Speaking of another Jewish cultural icon, Woody Allen, all you fans who never gave up on The Woodman, it's time to stick out your tongues at the nay sayers. "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," is his funniest film in decades. At least that was the consensus in Southampton, where the movie - starring Javier Bardem as a sex-obsessed painter in a love quadrangle with Scarlett Johannson, Rebecca Hall, and Penelope Cruz - was screened for the likes of Joy Behar, Lorraine Bracco, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Pete Peterson, Sandy Hill Pittman, Marjorie Gubelman, and Tory Burch with her man Lyor Cohen. Everybody howled!

Seen Around the Villages:

Robert De Niro was spotted in a black Escalade dropping off his wife Grace Hightower, for a private tennis lesson at the Montauk Yacht Club.

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi came by Townline BBQ early one evening this week. He and a friend pulled up in a blue 1966 convertible with white racing stripes Chevy Malibu SS.

Ed Burns and Christy Turtlington with her parents and their kids dined at Cherrystone's Clam and Lobster Shack in East Hampton Wednesday night.

Dan Abrams of CNBC stopped by Grappa, Jean Luc's new hotspot in Sag Harbor, Saturday night for drinks at the bar with friends.

Katie Couric has clearly learned the advantages of great takeout. Faced with feeding 25 friends, she called up her fave spot Turtle Crossing to supply the goodies for a BBQ at her house.

Producer Marty Richards and Marjorie Gubelman dined with Jeffrey and Linda Chodorow at Almond on Friday night.

Nick & Toni's Weekly Roll Call: Monday ­ David Yurman, Robert Benton; Tuesday - Kathleen Turner with her daughter Rachel and Jane Wenner sat on the front porch; Thursday ­ Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea dined with another couple, across from Bob Balaban and friends; Friday ­ Morris and Jaci Reid, Ethan Hawke and Ryan Shawhughes and baby Clementine on the front porch sharing a salad and a pasta; Sunday ­ Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni, Alan Grubman, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson, and Marty Richards.