By Carrie Ann Salvi
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NBC Photo: Virginia Sherwood[/caption]
Brooke Shields will be among the esteemed authors that visit Bridgehampton’s Hampton Library for “Fridays at Five,” a longstanding tradition of conversations that will soon reach its 30-year mark. Wine and hors d’oeuvres are also dished in the outdoor garden each Friday in July and August at 5 p.m. as a part of the readings, which begin this weekend.
Ms. Shields, an award-winning actress and author, will share insights on her memoir “There was a Little Girl, The Real Story of My Mother and Me.” Her latest is added to her collection, which includes a New York Times bestseller and two children’s books. The Princeton graduate is also an advocate for women’s issues and arts programs in schools. On August 27, she will converse via a live interview conducted by Kathleen Marshall, a noted choreographer and theatre director.
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Colson Whitehead[/caption]
Representing New York this Friday, July 10, it’s Colson Whitehead, whose award-winning pens include “Sag Harbor,” a fictional novel from the view of a wealthy, young African American. Sag Harbor is also the locale of many a Whitehead family vacation. He will also to discuss “The Noble Hustle: Poker, Beef Jerky and Death,” his non-fictional account of the 2011 World Series of Poker. Mr. Whitehead’s award-winning works also include reviews, essays and fiction in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and New York Magazine.
With a blog voted by Forbes.com as one of the top 100 websites for women, Frances C. Jones will share her expertise in business etiquette, job interviews, and body language on August 7. She has written series of books that include “How to Wow: Proven Strategies for Selling Your (Brilliant) Self in any Situation” and “Wow Your Way into the Job of Your Dreams.” She has also created an application for iPhones and iPads, called “Interview Wow.”
Arlene Alda, a professional musician turned freelance photographer and author, will come by to chat on August 14. Her creations include best-selling children's books, one co-written with her husband, Alan Alda. The couple split their time between Long Island and New York City.
The author of “Home Cooked Hamptons,” Bonnie Verbitsky, will be featured on July 17. The world traveler, advertising executive, and philanthropist will be interviewed by Walker Vreeland, an award-winning East End radio host heard on 102.5 WBAZ.
Ken Auletta will share a lifetime of lessons learned as a journalist on July 24. Mr. Auletta has written a column for The New Yorker magazine since 1992 in addition to his other contributions, which include the Village Voice and the New York Daily News. Mr. Auletta has written 11 books, with five national bestsellers that include “Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way,” “Greed And Glory On Wall Street: The Fall of The House of Lehman,” and “Googled, The End of the World As We Know It.”
Foodies should mark their calendars for Florence Fabricant ‘s appearance on July 31. The award-winning food writer and columnist for The New York Times is the author of 12 cookbooks. Her latest, with Eric Asimov, is “Wine with Food: Pairing Notes & Recipes from the NY Times.” Others include “The New York Restaurant Cookbook,” “The New York Times Dessert Cookbook,” “The New York Times Seafood Cookbook,” and “Park Avenue Potluck.”
On August 28, it will be Alice McDermott, a novelist, essayist and author of “Someone,” along with many other novels and short stories. Her fictional accounts have appeared in Ms., Redbook, Mademoiselle, The New Yorker and Seventeen and Dr. McDermott has also published articles in The New York Times and The Washington Post.
No matter the literary pleasure, there is something for everyone, and funds raised from admission and book sales from the series help Hampton Library to “set itself apart from other libraries” with equipment, technology, and programs that support the community, according to Kelly Harris, the library’s Director.
This year, credit cards will be accepted for Fridays at Five too, said Ms. Harris, for the admission price of $20 or the five-lecture series pass for $80. For more information, visit hamptonlibrary.org.
