Here we are at the end of August with Labor Day weekend looming ahead. We are so lucky to be here in East Hampton. The weather has been ideal for beachgoers and golfers alike, and although my lawn could really use a good day or two of rain, we really have nothing to complain about. However, unfortunately, as all the locals know, the end of August is notorious for angry, complaining people who seem to enjoy ripping the workers of our fair town to shreds. I was walking through the village the other day and heard yelling. I looked over and saw a man berating a TCO for giving him a ticket. He was accusing the poor teenage officer of enjoying his job and verbally assaulted him. I was fairly certain that the teen had absolutely nothing to due with the fact that the man had overstayed his time in the free lot. Why didn’t he just park in the long term lot and take the free shuttle, saving everyone some aggravation? The next day, I was in a restaurant where a customer had cornered a waitress, leaning over her with his finger in her face, screaming that he had wanted coffee with his dessert. I had heard her explain the entire dessert menu to him and his guests, twice, couldn’t he have just asked for the coffee then? Ask any worker in town and they can tell you their end of the summer tale of woe. Add to the situation that most college students have already headed back to school and many places are running short staffed. I don’t understand why people start getting so out of control. Is it the heat or perhaps the idea that their vacation is almost over that pushes them over the edge? I still don’t think that there is any excuse for such bad behavior and would remind people of the old saying, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. So if you are having a bad day, perhaps you can just take a deep breath and remember that you could be somewhere else and it could be so much worse. Enjoy the remaining days of August and try to be nice to the workers. I promise you that they are even more exhausted and fed up than you are!There is magic happening this week. On Wednesday, August 26, the Kidsfest event at Guild Hall brings bubbles and illusions. The event is at 2 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. with Bubble Trouble presenting an outdoor bubble show. Then head indoors for tricks and illusions with Jason Bishop, known as America’s Hottest Illusionist. The event is filled with state-of-the-art illusions and is family friendly. For a sweet treat between the shows at 4 p.m., Citarella is sponsoring a cookie decorating workshop that will be both fun and delicious. For tickets and more information, call 324-0806 or visit www.guildhall.org.
Attend the opening reception of “Never Say Goodbye” by Gordon Stevenson on Thursday, August 27, at 6 p.m. at the Tripoli Gallery in the village. The show features oil paintings inspired by the artist’s youth, filled with nostalgic comic book and cartoon characters, but painted with the wit and humor of an adult perspective. The show will continue through the end of September, go to www.tripoligallery.com for more information.
Another cool exhibit to check out while you are walking through the village is Barbara Macklowe’s photo art show titled “Floreale” at the Lawrence Fine Art Gallery. All the works are created from photographs taken in her own garden here in East Hampton. She somehow reworks them into beautiful and original artwork. The gallery will feature her exhibit through mid-September. It’s worth the detour.
For guilt-free jewelry shopping head to Elements Fitness Studio on Friday, August 28, from 9 a.m. to noon for the Same Sky—Jewelry with Purpose trunk show. The show features original artisanal pieces created by Rwandan women organized by Same Sky, which is a group that empowers women in Rwanda. The group trains impoverished women and gives them an opportunity to make a living and provide for their families. One hundred percent of the net profits go to the training and wages of women in need, and as an added bonus, their jewelry is gorgeous. For more information, go to www.samesky.com.
Wordsmiths, get excited. There is some mind challenging fun to be had this weekend. The Scrabble for Scholars event takes place on Saturday, August 29, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the home of Marshall Watson and Paul Sparks. It will be an evening of games and cocktails all in support of the Oliver Scholars Program. Tickets are $100. For more details and information, contact Heidi Idrovo at hidrovo@oliverscholars.org.
After an afternoon of Scrabble, you’ll want to just sit back, relax and laugh. Head to Guild Hall on both Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30, at 8 p.m. for an evening with Joy Behar in her one woman show “Me, My Mouth and I.” The show chronicles her life from a kid growing up in Brooklyn through her years of stand-up comedy and television talk shows. The show is both hilarious and poignant. For more details, call 324-0806.
Mondays can be a bit rough, but not if you have something to look forward to. Monday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. the Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack offers children’s art classes. Each week the focus is on a different artist and style of work. The classes are outdoors in Madoo’s beautiful garden and cost $25. For information, visit its website at www.madoo.org.
Staff Writer on Aug 24, 2015