Beachcomber, August 10

Well, it has been a very busy week now that my mother has arrived. Tuesday evening, I took her over to Water Mill to the Hampton Coffee Company for an early dinner. She loved the place! We sat out back and enjoyed a delightful dinner, even if it was a bit cool for our Florida blood.Wednesday, the Quogue Field Club held its member-guest tournament. Inside the club was a trunk show, with various vendors selling everything from hostess gifts to clothing and fine jewelry. My mother walked in the main room and headed right over to LSC Designs to look at the jewels. The next thing I know, she is in a huddle with Kingsley Crawford, as they both are looking down at my mother’s hand. I knew this was going to be trouble, as my mother turned around to show me quite a ring that, as she said, “fit like a glove.”

I suggested we look at the other vendors in the room, which she did, but before long we were right back where we started, looking at the ring. Needless to say, she had to buy it, claiming the price was too good to pass up. (By the way, the Crawford girls are having an end-of-summer trunk show this Friday, so give them a call for details.)

On our way back from Quogue, we decided to have lunch and stopped at the Canal Café. I know you may find this hard to believe, but it was my first time there—but certainly not my last. I have heard about this place for years from friends but have never bothered to check it out. Well, our lunch was great, and sitting on the deck overlooking the canal was absolutely delightful. Can’t wait to go there again.

Friday evening, a very dear friend had a cocktail party that I am sworn to secrecy about. My friend insisted that I bring my mother, who had a lovely time. It was a nice, casual fun evening with very good friends and wonderful conversation. Thank you to my host for including us in your intimate little gathering.

Saturday morning, I headed over to Pond Lane for the Hope for Depression Research Foundation’s second annual Walk of Hope, a 5K run/walk around Lake Agawam. Even though it was raining, several hundred people came out to support this wonderful cause. Of course, it started to really rain just as the run/walk got under way, but that did not deter the crowd as they made their way around the lake.

Seen donning yellow T-shirts and rain ponchos: Mayor Michael Irving and wife Ellen, Audrey Gruss, Clelia and Tom Zacharias, Campion Platt, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Kristi Witker, Lis Waterman, Somers Farkas, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Steve Bernstein, Mia Hallingby, Ana Maria Holme, Christl Meszkat, and Robert Wilson, to mention just a few.

I was so glad that the weather cleared up by the late afternoon so as not to interfere with the hospital gala. This year marked the 59th Summer Party for the hospital, which as of last Tuesday has merged with Stony Brook and is now known as Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. I just love this party, and with the recent changes it just keeps getting better. This year’s chairs were Marigay McKee and Bill Ford, along with playwright Terrence McNally and his husband, Thomas Kirdahy.

Thankfully, though, the location of the party remained the same, and TNT Valet, owned by Ricky Taylor, was there as always to park the guests’ cars. Given my schedule on some nights, having Ricky’s team there makes it very easy for me to get from one place to the next without having to wait forever for my car.

Seen enjoying cocktails: Dr. John Anton, Allison Morrow, Joan Jedell, Laura Danforth, Jack Hadlock, Florence Danforth-Meyer and Seth Meyer, Robert Zimmerman, Katlean de Monchy, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Hilary and Wilbur Ross, Lee Fryd, Myra and Frank Weiser, Alan Glatt, Katherine and Gary Andreassen, and Dede and Terry Moan.

As we walked into the main tent for dinner, guests were met with a stunning black-and-white theme with tall evergreens dotting the perimeter. The tablecloths were black, white and oatmeal alternating around the room. A soft pink light was cast on the ceiling, setting a very elegant tone for the night. Larry Scott was the caterer, and he did not disappoint, with a dinner that was both varied and delicious

There were the obligatory speeches discussing the merger with Stony Brook as well as all the new advances that are happening at our hospital. We are so fortunate to have this amazing facility right here in the village.

Seen enjoying the evening: Bob Chaloner and Oscar Mandes, Cindy and Ladd Willis, Melanie and John Wambold, Ana Maria and Jimmy Holme, Jean Fitzsimmons, Howard Marton, Ann Grimm, Bill Keating, Jane Rose and Kent Atkins, Larry Horton and Joe Markovich, Howard Lauber, Megan and Ken Wright, Nancy Stone, Lisa and Rome Arnold, Amy and Ray Cosman, Margo and Jimmy Nederlander, Valerie and Graziano de Boni, Jerome Jacalone, Raya and Clif Knight, Betsy Boggs, John Grisham, Colette and Charlie Russell, Ellen and Michael Irving, Lisa and Rome Arnold, and Barbara Reuter and Bill Williams.

It was so nice to see everyone dressed up and looking their best. Several readers have asked why I stopped mentioning some of the outfits at parties, so here are just a few of my favorites: Co-chair Marigay McKee looked stunning in a pale gray layered long dress that was covered with silver beading by Needle and Thread. Melanie Wambold looking elegant in a red-and-white-striped long skirt with a bandeau top with a large white bow, all by Mark D. Sikes. Lisa Arnold had on a very pretty silk gown in salmon and gray by Luca Luca, and Amy Cosman looked great in a diagonal-banded nude-and-white sequence dress from Dazzelle.

Afterward, the band Groove Society kicked the party up a few notches, as they had the dance floor packed with guests enjoying the fabulous selection of music. Seen dancing away on the black-and-white dance floor: Christl and Kenny Meszkat, Lydia and Jim Wallis, Joan and George Hornig, Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Elyn and Jeff Kronemeyer, Laura Lofaro Freeman and Jim Freeman, Tana and Bill Dye, and Marianne and Mark Epley.

This weekend is turning out to be very busy. Friday night, Guild Hall’s Summer Gala, titled “Avedon’s America,” will take place starting at 5 p.m. The event is hosted by April Gornik and features a special preview of Richard Avedon’s works, followed by dinner and dancing.

First up on Saturday evening is the Southampton Rose Society’s cocktail fundraiser at a private home in Southampton. I love this charity because of all the work they do to beautify our village. Chatting with several members of the Society, I hear that the party will be a very big to do and well worth a visit, and, given the 5:30 start time, you can make it the first stop of your evening.

The 11th annual Get Wild Summer Benefit will be held at a private residence in Southampton that evening, featuring some of our local wildlife.

Sunday is the 12th annual Strides for Life sponsored by the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. It will be a run/walk around Lake Agawam starting at Pond Lane.

That evening, there is a cocktail party at the Parrish Hall on Herrick Road for Camphill Village USA. This is an incredible organization offering a vibrant community setting for people with developmental disabilities. What a great cause.

I hope to see you there!