Costume-Optional Little Edie’s Birthday Celebration To Take Place During Next “Artists & Writers Night”

Artist Mary Ellen Bartley will host a Little Edie’s Birthday Celebration themed evening as part of the next “Artists & Writers Night” at Almond in Bridgehampton. The festive affair will take place on Tuesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. – what would be the 100th birthday of Little Edie (Edith “Little Edie” Bouvier Beale), a first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lee Bouvier Radziwill, who was known for her participation in Albert and David Maysles’ documentary film Grey Gardens.

“I’d just finished my project Reading Grey Gardens, a photographic series depicting the beautifully damaged books from the original Beale library remaining on the shelves at Grey Gardens,” Bartlety reflected. “It was up at The Drawing Room and Almond asked if I wanted to host an ‘Artist and Writers’ dinner, I said I would if I came up with a good idea. Ten minutes later I remembered November 7th will be the centenary of Little Edie’s birth, I checked the calendar and it was a Tuesday, ‘meant to be’ I called Almond with the idea to have a costume-optional birthday party for Little Edie.”

In addition to toasting to Little Edie, attendees will be treated to a family style three-course menu created by executive chef Jason Weiner. The meal will feature Chicken Liver Toast with green salad, Dijon dressing, and Sagaponack shallots, Roast Chicken with buttered carrots and potato gratin, and a Gingerbread Cake with cream cheese frosting and rainbow sprinkles.

“Then we learned that Grey Gardens sold, another signal that as we enter Another Winter in a Summer Town (a song from the musical Grey Gardens), we should celebrate our local folklore and the history and characters of that fabled place,” she shared.

During the event, Barltey will discuss her new series. “I plan to show a very short film of my project made by local filmmaker Nick Whelan, and show a loop of images,” Bartlety added. “Author Adam Green will read a piece he wrote about Jerry Torre, the marble faun, for The New Yorker, and for the dessert course Molly Channing and her daughter Sylvia Channing will sing a related song, a surprise, and Happy Birthday!”

Admission to “Artists & Writers Night” is $45, which includes a glass of local wine or craft beer and gratuity, tax is not included. Reservations are required.

Almond is located at 1 Ocean Road in Bridgehampton. For more information, call 631-537-5665 or visit almondrestaurant.com.