Hamptons

REEL FANCY: SWEDISH FISH TO SCHOOL SAG HARBOR AND BENEFITS TO HOOK YOUR CALENDARS.

🌈 Pride & Paddleboards – LGBTQ+ Network Summer Kickoff

📍Bridgehampton Surf & Tennis Club | 🗓️ May 24, 2025
Support the first LGBTQ+ community center on the East End and sip seaside with the chicest crowd west of Fire Island. Auction highlights include spa days, designer swag, and maybe Andy Cohen if you bid hard enough.
🎟️ Tickets: $250+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: Gorgeous cause, ocean view, open bar—need we say more?
🧣 Reason to Skip: Hoping for Speedos? Sorry. It’s more “coastal grandmother” than “Coachella glow-up.”
👉 More info here

🎣 Southampton Fresh Air Home – The Greatest Yard Sale on Earth

📍Barkers Island Road, Southampton | 🗓️ June 7, 2025
This mellow-meets-moneyed affair supports summer fun for kids with physical disabilities. Expect designer home goods, trips, beauty treatments, and a surprising amount of social clout for a yard sale.
🎟️ Tickets: $250+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: That $4,000 coffee table you almost bought in SoHo? It’s here for $1,200.
🧢 Reason to Skip: If you think “casual attire” includes denim—don’t. Think Nantucket red, not Levi’s.
👉 Details here

❤️ Heart of the Hamptons Heart Ball – American Heart Association

📍Bridgehampton Surf and Tennis Club, Bridgehampton | 🗓️ June 27, 2025
Where glam meets goodwill. This legendary gala helps fund life-saving research and gives you a reason to buy that outfit you can’t expense.
🎟️ Tickets: $500+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: You’ll glow, even if it’s just from the anti-aging serum in your gift bag.
🍤 Reason to Skip: Unless you’re auctioning off a Peloton, don’t expect to burn off the passed hors d’oeuvres.
👉 Get tickets here

🍽️ God’s Love We Deliver Midsummer Night Drinks Benefit

📍Private Estate, Water Mill | 🗓️ July 12, 2025
This one’s for the do-gooders who also love a good garden party. Supporting the NYC-based charity that delivers meals to people too sick to shop or cook, this event is equal parts glam and grounded.
🎟️ Tickets: $300+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: Gorgeous estate of Neil Patrick Harris, heartfelt cause, and cocktails that actually justify the Uber surcharge.
🥱 Reason to Skip: If you’re looking for high drama, this one’s a little more hydrangeas and hugs than Bravo brawls. (Although I’ve seen a few bitch fights over the same xoxoxoxo outfit.)
👉 Learn more here

🐶 Unconditional Love Gala – Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation

📍Southampton Arts Center | 🗓️ July 19, 2025
This one’s personal—because it’s where I found Ralph, my screeching, stubborn, sandwich-stealing beagle who also happens to be the coolest dog in the Hamptons (Bella is sweet but she is not cool). The gala supports the lifesaving work of the no-kill shelter that matched us up, and it’s a favorite for animal lovers, local celebs, and anyone who knows a good rescue story when they see one.
🎟️ Tickets: $350+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: You might just meet your own Ralph—hopefully minus the operatic bark.
👠 Reason to Skip: Only if you hate love, puppies, and open bars.
👉 Fetch details here

🌟 30th ANNIVERSARY Gala – The Ellen Hermanson Foundation

📍Bridgehampton Surf and Tennis Club | 🗓️ July 26, 2025
Dancing, drinks, and dedication to breast cancer support. This gala brings the glam and the good vibes with a high-energy crowd and an even higher heel count.
🎟️ Tickets: $400+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: The dance floor is lit. Seriously, bring your flats.
🎻 Reason to Skip: Hoping for a sedate soirée? This is more Beyoncé than Brahms.
👉 Full event info here

🐾 Bow Wow Meow Ball – ARF Hamptons

📍William P. Rayner Training Center, East Hampton | 🗓️ August 16, 2025
This year’s Bow Wow Meow Ball celebrates 51 years of ARF’s tail-wagging heroism. Expect a star-studded evening with heartfelt tributes, gourmet eats, and the Parade of Animals that guarantees more “awws” than a baby goat video.
🎟️ Tickets: $500+
🔥 Best Reason to Go: Glam, decor, cupcakes, cocktails, and adoptable animals. What more do you want—puppy kisses? (Actually, those too.)
🐕 Reason to Skip: If you don’t like dogs, cats, or compassion… maybe try Wall Street that night and seek help.
👉 Snag your ticket here

Mark those calendars, fluff your tulle, and let the benefit bingo begin. And remember—just because it’s for charity doesn’t mean you can’t be just a little competitive in the silent auction.

“Tacos Fold, Traffic Flips, and Gurney’s Gets gigi-fied: Just Another Week in the Hamptons”

El Taco Bar going back to the burgers!

Just a few short seasons ago, El Taco Bar in Sag Harbor salsa’d onto the scene with a flurry of fanfare, promising handmade tortillas, curated cocktails, and “authentic Mexican cuisine” courtesy of Chef Laurent Tourondel. But now? The only thing sizzling is the rumor mill. Despite signs on the door boldly declaring they’ll be back this spring, brown paper over the windows tells a different story—the first clue that a makeover is clearly underway. And spoiler alert: it’s not a fresh coat of lime paint. Word on the street is that El Taco is folding faster than a soft-shell tortilla and making way for an revamped —LT Burger (not sure if they’re actually keeping the name). Yep, they’re shelving the tacos and tequila and going back to burgers and fries. It’s a full circle moment, or should we say a full patty comeback. Apparently, they couldn’t taco the pressure. Forgive me while I add one final comment on this makeover, maybe add some smiles to the staff and management.

More food news: Gurney’s Montauk is shaking things up this summer with the debut of not one, but two new dining spots. Coming early summer 2025, they’ll unveil gigi’s montauk—yes, all lowercase, because it’s casual but make it fancy. Billed as their new flagship, gigi’s promises New-American fare where “coastal charm meets seasonal innovation” and menus inspired by the sea and local ingredients. Meanwhile, a more laid-back café called Dune will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner—perfect for post-beach bites or a pre-spa latte. But while Gurney’s is riding the rebranding wave, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Scarpetta, once their culinary crown jewel, has since taken up very stylish residence at the Maidstone Inn in East Hampton. Will gigi’s make the same splash? Or is it just another tide rolling in? Time—and reservations—will tell.

Get ready, Hamptons commuters—traffic on County Road 39 is about to get a major remix. Starting Monday, April 21, and running for two weeks, Southampton Town is rolling out a bold traffic experiment. From 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, key intersections between North Main Street and Sunrise Highway will be switching things up: think blinking yellows, steady greens, and absolutely no left turns. That’s right—cross traffic and left turns at Sandy Hollow, Magee, and Tuckahoe Roads are getting the red light (literally), all in the name of easing the eastbound crawl. Police will be out in full force—on the ground and in the air, thanks to drones—making sure no one pulls a sneaky U-turn. If you live on a side street, brace yourself: you’ll need to plan alternate routes and make peace with the right turn. The hope? A smoother, faster commute. The reality? We’ll see and it’s ONLY APRIL!

A FEW REASONS WHY 2024 WASN’T SO GREAT!

It’s been far too long since I last posted, and my brain feels like an overstuffed suitcase of annoyances I can’t zip shut. Before I can move forward, I need to vent and get the most maddening trends of 2024 off my chest. From the annoying to the infuriatingly bad, the Hamptons delivered its usual cocktail of glamour and absurdity this year. But some moments just demand a proper takedown. So, let’s dive into the highs, the lows, and the eye-roll-worthy trends (I won’t even bring up the “Housewives” of the Hamptons) that need to be unpacked before I can clear my head and move on.

WORST FASHION TREND OF 2024: There’s nothing quite like spotting a city slicker decked out in head-to-toe designer gear, accessorized with an Amber Waves Farm hat, as if they just finished milking cows instead of sipping a $30 rosé. Newsflash: it doesn’t make you look cool, and it definitely doesn’t make you look earthy. That hat isn’t a shortcut to farm-to-table authenticity—it’s a neon sign flashing “I’m trying too hard.” The vibe isn’t rustic charm; it’s urban douchebaggery with a side of performative granola. No offense to Amber Waves btw… love the place and yes i have the hat but with a Brunello Cucinelli outfit head to toe is more than I can stomach. If you want to buy a hat but promise not wear it with Prada shirt… click here!

Worst Food Trend – There’s a troubling craze in the Hamptons dining scene: restaurants with way too much attitude. You know the type—where snagging an 8 o’clock reservation feels like winning the lottery, only to arrive and find your table isn’t ready. But wait, don’t even think about sliding up to the bar for a drink to kill the time because those spots are apparently “reserved” for people with a reservation. Make it make sense! While I’ll spare actually naming the offenders , let’s call out that place in Sag Harbor for leading the charge. This might fly in NYC, where the vibe thrives on exclusivity, but in the Hamptons? It’s just pretentious—and honestly, exhausting. Honorable mention: XXXXX on Shelter Island for too much attitude.

Worst Media Trend – Another bad trend taking over the Hamptons? Those endless “Top 10” lists. Every publication, website, and influencer under the sun is churning them out, all vying for ad dollars. And surprise, surprise—guess who always makes the cut? The store, the landscaper, designer, plumber, pizza place, and yes, even real estate agent who happens to advertise with them. Shocking, right? My inbox is constantly bombarded with these “best of” compilations, and honestly, I take them with a grain of salt. The only time I really perk up and pay attention? When I’m on the list. Funny how that works.

Worst Landscaping Trend – The Hamptons has a sign problem—everywhere you look, there’s another one cluttering the landscape. Yes, we’re all used to the sea of real estate signs, but what about the ones for builders, designers, landscapers, and politicians that seem to take up permanent residence? Most real estate agents at least have the decency to take their signs down as soon as a property sells, but if the house sold three years ago, why is the designer’s sign still camped out front? This is supposed to be a bucolic retreat, a break from the hustle and bustle of city life—not a patchwork of advertisements making it look more like Long Island City.

Now that I’ve aired my grievances and taken aim at some of the more annoying trends plaguing the Hamptons, I feel like I can finally exhale. Consider it a little housecleaning for the soul—a necessary purge to clear the way for a brighter, more positive outlook. Yes, I know, I’m a bit of a Grinch. But hey, even the Grinch had a change of heart, and so can I. With the venting out of the way, I’m ready to turn my focus to the good stuff ahead: the moments of charm, beauty, and joy that make this place special. Here’s to a fresh start and a year worth celebrating—minus a few extra signs and attitude-filled bars, of course.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED… YET? GLADIATOR 2 KEPT ME WAITING IN THE ARENA. PLUS, A FESTIVE FEAST FOR THE EYES!



A battle for patience (yeah more than waiting for me to blog again) rivaled any gladiatorial combat as I found myself in the modern-day coliseum—a Regal Cinemas theater—awaiting Gladiator 2. I felt like a christian waiting for the lions. The show was slated to begin at 7:00, but instead of roaring into epic action, I was bombarded with boredom with an endless parade of commercials. From Pepsi to Mountain Dew, insurance policies to U.S. Navy recruitment ads (Don’t ask don’t tell), the arena was packed with sponsors vying for attention. By the time the movie finally started—well after 7:30—I felt like a weary Roman citizen waiting for the emperor’s signal to let the games begin. In the end, though, Ridley Scott’s epic was worth the wait, even if I had to endure 30 minutes of corporate sword-and-shield tactics first! Now, I know why people prefer Netflix.

Speaking of movies for cinephiles! The 17th annual Hamptons Doc Fest rolls into Sag Harbor from Dec. 5 to 11, featuring 32 films at Sag Harbor Cinema and Bay Street Theater. Kicking off opening night is Merchant Ivory, Stephen Soucy’s 2023 doc celebrating the legendary filmmaking duo behind 44 acclaimed films, gracing this year’s festival cover. The highlight? Oscar-winner Michael Moore snagging the Pennebaker Career Achievement Award on Dec. 7 at Bay Street, followed by a screening of his groundbreaking debut, Roger & Me. Tickets are on sale now— click here and don’t miss it!

Finally, looking for some holiday fun this season? Step into a winter wonderland at LongHouse Reserve after dark, where glowing sculptures and light-dappled garden paths transform the landscape into a magical experience. This holiday season, don’t miss the return of ZIMA! by The Neo-Political Cowgirls—a captivating theatrical adventure through the garden’s beautifully illuminated trails. Directed by Kate Mueth, ZIMA! (Polish for “winter”) is an immersive, 30-minute journey that brings to life folklore, dance, poetry, and music from cultures around the world. Along the way, guests will discover whimsical vignettes before heading to the cozy art market, where handmade gifts, festive treats, and live music await. After your adventure, warm up at the Holiday Artisan Market, supporting local artists and makers, with all proceeds benefiting the LongHouse Annual Appeal. A perfect blend of art, culture, and holiday cheer! There is a suggested fee of $45 per person. You can purchase your tickets by clicking here.