guild hall

CULTURE CLUB… ART IN THE HAMPTONS!

Laurie Hall’s “TO THE POINT” acrylic on canvass

Put away that “Elvis on Velvet” the Hamptons art scene has returned in a big way this summer. The good news: Exciting work is on view every weekend in pretty much every town. The less-good news: You’d be hard pressed to see everything and still have time for other East End endeavors, you know like sitting on 27. Lucky for you, I’ve found some highlights that are about as local as it gets out here. But don’t expect any dogs playing poker.

Group Show

Kirsten Benfield’s- ” ICE” – watercolor on paper

First, check out Ashawagh Hall in Springs this Friday, July 16 to see a group exhibition curated by my friend Mark Perry. This is Mark’s second curatorial outing, and he’s put together an excellent group of artists, including Roy Nicholson, Denise Gale, John Haubrich, Gus Yero, George Singer, Laurie Hall, Scott Bluedorn and Kirsten Benfield.

Mark explained that he used Ashawagh Hall’s “L” shape and separate small room to give each artist decent representation in the space. This is why he kept the number to eight, including himself, and chose people based solely on instinct that their stuff would show well together. “Many of the artists coincidentally are inspired by nature even the abstract work has a natural palette so they do work easily together,” he told me, also noting that all artists are mature to mid-career, with the exception of Scott Bluedorn, who happens to be one of the area’s most promising young artists with a lot of shows already under his belt. You might recognize his drawings from the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s beer bottles!

Scott Bluedorn – ‘SUNDAY ON SAND’ – watercolor on paper

The opening reception is Saturday from 5–8 p.m. and regular hours are from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. from Friday to Tuesday, June 20.

Guild Hall’s Clothesline Art Sale

Next Saturday, July 24, Guild Hall is holding their 75th annual Clothesline Art Sale. One of the most fun and hotly-anticipated art events of the Hamptons summer, this longstanding tradition offers collectors a chance to acquire some fantastic work by more than 300 artists of all levels—including some real heavy hitters—for rock-bottom prices, from $75–$5,000.

Throughout the event’s history, legendary artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Alfonso Ossorio and many others have placed work up for sale. And, best of all, 50% of proceeds go to support Guild Hall and their important work bringing arts and culture to the region (2021 is the institution’s 90th year!). Go early to get the best stuff. Believe me, there will be plenty of people in line well before the doors open at 9 a.m. (sale closes at 4 p.m.).

Visit guildhall.org/events/75th-clothesline-art-sale/ for all the details.

Well, now that you get the picture about art on the east end, It’s an incredibly thrilling time to be an art lover and/or collector on the South Fork! Here are a few more links you may find useful

The Parish Art Museum

Long House Reserve

Hamptons Art Hub

Weekend Wrap-up; Renting Sight Unseen… Winter of Our Discontent Continues!

So, it was another snowy weekend here on the East End.    The snow, the ice, the frigid cold and the general lousy weather continues here in the Hamptons.     While internet activity for rentals and sales still remains strong and steady,  the number of people willing to trek through snow and frigid temps is dwindling.    This in turn has led to a number of rentals actually being rented sight unseen.

Rapid Rescue… lifesavers!  Yep, that’s my car!

One broker I spoke with “E” said it, “makes me very nervous.”    Renting from a picture which could have very well been photo-shopped is a bad idea.    Another agent “G” indicated that they’re seeing tenants from previous seasons going back to the house they rented last year so they don’t have to come back out and look again.    Speaking to my cadre (aren’t you impressed with my vocabulary?) of experienced brokers and agents, the weather continues to put somewhat of a damper on the Hamptons market.   That being said, once the snow melts they’re expecting an explosion of activity….  because phones are ringing and e-emails are being traded back and forth.  So the grade for this weekend was a C+. I really have to go to Florida soon! 

An offer at Guild Hall you can’t refuse!

If you want an example of how difficult it is to get around the Hamptons, look no further than yours truly.     I made the mistake of taking my “4 Wheel” car out last night to pick up some food.    But alas, after one gunning of the accelerator and a slippy driveway I ended up in a snow bank on my own driveway.   I mean with all of the ice, if you don’t see sharp you’ll be flat (read that again).   Anyway, thanks to RAPID RECOVERY and $135,  I finally got my car out this morning.    By the way, I also want to thank my lovely neighbor for trying to pretend he didn’t see.    I wasn’t going to ask for your help anyway!    So for the next few days, keep Rapid Recovery on speed dial, they were great and there in about an hour…(631) 728-7752.

Meanwhile, this week there’s an offer at Guild Hall you can’t refuse.  The East Hampton film society will be presenting a special screening this Thursday night at 7 p.m. of the 1972 classic, “The Godfather.”  Personally I liked the “Godfather II” better but still this flick glues me to the screen every time I catch it on TV.   Tickets are $8.00 for non members.  If you want more information  click here for the website and you can also buy tickets.  So, take it to the mattresses and go get a ticket…. otherwise you may find a horse in your bed!

A WEEKEND WITH THE DUKE & ALEC… STACKS OF CONTROVERSY IN SAG…. BADLY BEHAVING BEAGLES!

Curious what to do this weekend in the Hamptons?  Well here are a few suggestions to keep yourself from going totally nuts with cabin fever!

One easy thing you might want to consider is going to see a good movie.    So what’s playing in down this weekend?  Let’s take a look.

Wait, I don’t know a single one of these movies!  FULL TIME?  Is that a porn flick?    Where is “Jupiter Ascending” or at the very least “March of the Penguins”….. which I think is still playing here!  Oh wait, “Managers” isn’t that the direct to video movie with Dane Cook?   Well if none of these titles appeal to you Pilgrim, maybe you’d want to go see John Wayne in “The Searchers” at Guild Hall.  Alec Baldwin is hosting another in the Hampton’s Film Festival’s Winter Series with a special screening of the John Ford Classic.   For more information you can try clicking here!     Personally, I’m still waiting for them to host a screening of director Jack Smight’s masterpiece “Airport 75.”    It’s an epic story which analyzes man’s inhumanity to man in the metaphor of a 747 without a pilot!    Helen Reddy’s tour de force performance as Sister Ruth and Charlton Heston’s romantic chemistry with George Kennedy… it’s no wonder why this epic is considered a classic!

Stacks and stacks of controversy!  The new Harbor Market!

Meanwhile, if you want something with a little more drama you can go online and read all about how some residents of Sag Harbor trying to stop the opening of a new market!   The Harbor Market and kitchen is to be located at the site of the old Espresso!    Apparently neighbors are fuming over an upgrade in the ventilation system and what is being perceived as a potential new noise maker!   Now Espresso has been there for years and some are criticizing local residents for trying to have things their way…. after the fact.  Meanwhile opponents are saying it’s just a bit too industrial for a residential neighborhood.      Now we all know it’s hard enough with all the regulations out here for small businesses to survive.    So, I’m not getting into the fray here but I do think sometimes those who live in illegal glass houses should be careful before throwing stones!

Busted! Bella trying to hide her butts!

Finally, longer days can’t come fast enough for me… when is daylight savings time anyway?  But while I’m wishing for warmer longer days, I am going to share a little something that makes spying on my dogs Bella and Russell in the backyard at night a little easier.    They’re called NightIze and they sell for about  $6 on Amazon . It’s as simple as a a clip on a collar and squeeze on the light to use.   Do they work?   Well let’s just put it this way, I’m finding a lot less strange dogs hanging around ….and no more cigarette butts and beer bottles from my two trouble makers going outside.

I hate when my dogs smell like tobacco!

p.s.   I don’t have an editor on this blog, I’m just happy I’m getting it done.    I’ll fix it over the course of the next few days but lighten up folks… I have another job!

Hey, I just got a new layout… what do you think? And a SHOUT OUT to one of my competitors!

Its my stream of consciousness blog today! I went last night for dinner to 1770 House and actually sat UPSTAIRS! It was for the prix fixe of course, $29.00. It was awesome. The food is always terrific and the service was an A+! Most of my table had the Mahi Mahi with a main course of Chedder Cheese Brioche (which are free)… I ordered the Olive Twist bread as my main dish. MY POINT?! Eat upstairs at 1770 House, you’re worth it!

So after dinner, we headed across the street to see Alec Baldwin in the Guild Hall production of Equus. Anyway for those of you who don’t know the story… according to wickipedia; Equus is a play by Peter Shaffer written in 1973, telling the story of a psychiatrist who attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological religious/sexual fascination with horses.[1]

Shaffer was inspired to write Equus when he heard of a crime involving a 17-year-old who blinded six horses in a small town near London. He set out to construct a fictional account of what might have caused the incident, without knowing any of the details of the crime. I guess I’m not really a theatre person because after an hour and a half, I had to be restrained in my seat because I wanted to blind myself and be rushed out of the show! By the way, all of my 5 friends loved the show. What do I know!?

Meanwhile, I became a father again this week. Yes, I have a new four legged child! How??? Well apparently in the South, dropping your dog off at a kill shelter after about two years seems to be no big deal. Luckily there are some people in the Hamptons who think this is as terrible as I do! My friend Cliffeton Green who is an agent at Corcoran was telling me about a dog she was fostering for LAST CHANCE ANIMAL RESCUE. We were doing a deal together and it was better than any 6% commission I ever got! NO, I’M NOT RETURNING THE MONEY FROM THE LAST DEAL.. BUT I AM MAKING A DONATION! But I digress… anyway, I ended up adopting Russell! He’s about 2 years old and a beagle mix. So Russell is now a happy member of my household and teaching my “angel” Boo about such wonderful past times as; stealing food off the counter tops, digging under the back yard fence to escape and chasing gophers in the backyard at 4 am! Anyway, when he looks at you and wags his tail, it makes it all worth it. Thanks Cliffeton, Russell is the best!! If you want to help LAST CHANCE ANIMAL RESCUE too, here’s their website http://www.lcarf.org/index.php They’re in need of volunteers to foster more dogs. I would offer to take another dog but I’m spending all of my time keeping Russell in line!