Hamptons High Life: Private Jets, Private Helicopters, Private Parties

This is it, Mid-August in the Hamptons. The private jets and helicopters are parked at East Hampton Airport and the huge mega yachts are all docked in Sag Harbor. The lawns in Southampton are green with private party tents going up and down and it’s hard to get tee times at the Maidstone Club in East Hampton. One event that personifies August in the Hamptons is the Hampton Classic Horse Show that is the annual summer finale, this year from August 24-31, 2014.

Entering its third decade of show/jump horse excellence the Hamptons Classic has become a place to see and be seen especially on Grand Prix Sunday. Michael Bloomberg, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Christie Brinkley, Jerry Seinfeld, Sophia Vergara, Matt Lauer, Martha Stewart, Madonna, Howard Stern and Beth Stern, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, and Kelly Klein are all but regulars. Who knows perhaps even Kourtney Kardashian will film there.

Speaking of Howard Stern, while I was visiting Ashawagh Hall to see a wonderful local artist’s showing, including my buddy Michael McDowell, a huge stretch Limo pulled up among the Prius’s and Honda Civics and who should pop out but the “King of Media” himself. Dressed in his signature black including a black leather jacket even when the temperature was in the 80’s, Howard walked in quietly and headed for the artwork of Linda Capello. It is no longer a secret that Stern has added “painting” to his new hobbies and Capello is helping him unleash his creative painting talents.

Later that same night Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were observed, by my wife and me, watching opening night of, “Clever Little Lies,” at East Hampton’s Guild Hall John Drew Theater. The East Hampton theater going crowd was out in full force that night to see the Hamptons premiere of “Clever Little Lies,” a new comedy by Joe DiPietro and directed by David Saint, starring Marlo Thomas. The star-studded audience at Guild Hall’s John Drew Theater also included Dina Merrill, Barbara Walters, Steve Cross and Blythe Danner, Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria Baldwin. These are just the folks I recognized from my 8th row seats.

The four-actor cast consisted of Marlo Thomas, cast as Alice, with Greg Mullavey, cast as her husband Billy. Jim Stanek played Billy Jr. and Kate Weatherhead played Billy Jr.’s wife Jane. The set and lighting were superb in this 90 minute One-Act play. Rumor has it heading to Broadway.