Social, Cultural & Dining Hamptons


    News you may have missed: Should Southampton Village allow a small supermarket to move into the space formerly occupied by the Glennon car dealership? Art gallery owners Ruth Vered and Janet Lehr must remove the 16-foot Larry Rivers sculpture "Legs" from outside their Sag Harbor residence. Montauk's popular Surf Lodge is negotiating with East Hampton Town over code violations. Cash-strapped East Hampton sold its half of Poxabogue Golf Course to Southampton Town, Matt Lauer wants to build an equestrian center in Water Mill, and young filmmaker Jack Heller shot his third feature in the Hamptons this past winter (we hope Refuge is a HIFF selection this October).
    Lots of restaurant news: Beacon and Red Bar partner David Loewenberg and chef Sam McCleland opened The Anchor (former Oasis site) on Noyac Rd. NYC restaurateur Tom Colicchio is opening restaurant/inn/spa Topping Rose House across from Bridgehampton's war monument. Southampton's 75 Main has a refreshed menu from new chef David John Hensley (Russian Tea Room), plus Ladies' Night Thursdays and a new location in Delray Beach, FL. The popular The Driver's Seat on Job's Lane, open daily 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., has outdoor garden seating and a bar. Chef Matthew Guiffrida moved Muse to Main Street in Sag Harbor, while Greek cuisine specialist Trata reopened in Water Mill, adding a late-night menu, Sunday brunch, and music.
    East Hampton restaurant news: From Manhattan's Meatpacking District, trendy Beaumarchais opens a branch this weekend (44 Three Mile Harbor Drive). Hamptons Players Club, with its equestrian-themed decor, is in last year's Beachhouse, adding an outdoor beer garden, late- night lounge, and locavore cuisine. Andrra, a Mediterranean seafood and chops bistro, debuts on Gann Rd. Millers' Real BBQ has takeout from the former Food & Co. store, and Claws-on-Wheels is now Hampton Seafood Company (next door to Rabbits Hole, the former Laundry). Amagansett's stellar gourmet takeout Mary's Marvelous opened a second shop in the old Bucket's Deli, Newtown Lane.
    Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor, begins its summer season May 26 with Broadway/TV stars Brian d'Arcy James and Ana Gasteyer in a cabaret evening. Then the American premiere of Irish playwright Geraldine Aron's bittersweet comedy My Brilliant Divorce runs May 29 through June 24. A revival of Joe Pintauro's dramatic Men's Lives, based on Peter Matthiessen's book about East End baymen, is onstage July 3 through 29. The world premiere of the musical Big Maybelle: Soul of the Blues, about iconic R&B singer/pianist Mabel Louise Smith, stars Tony Award winner Lillias White, and plays August 7 through September 2. Bay Street also has top comics on Monday nights (lineup to be announced), and the big Rock the Dock summer benefit gala on July 21. Details and tickets online at baystreet.org (631-725-9500).
    East Hampton's Guild Hall opens its John Drew Theater season June 7 with Murray Schisgal's comedy Luv, directed by Broadway's Lonny Price (through June 30). Acclaimed British jazz violinist Daisy Jopling performs July 5. Alec Baldwin hosts the new Hamptons International Film Festival documentary series starting July 6. Straight from Broadway, An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin is the big benefit show July 7. Wendy Goodman interviews Gloria Vanderbilt on July 8 (11 a.m.) and Broadway to Main Street radio host Laurence Maslon presents stars Emily Bergl and Malcolm Gets in Better When It's Banned: A Sinful Songbook (provocative songs by Porter, Coward, Rodgers and Hart) at 7:30 p.m. The Light Opera Company of Long Island performs Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado on July 9.
    Guild Hall's Red Carpet Films Series starts July 12. TEDx East Hampton (Technology, Entertainment, Design), a day of open discussions/ideas, is July 14, followed by Off-Broadway musical Jacques Brel Returns, with Anna Bergman (July 15). Architecture critic Paul Goldberger, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, journalist Christiane Amanpour, and New York Times columnist Joe Nocera lead Hamptons Institute discussions (July 21-22). KidFEST shows Wednesdays, July 11 through Aug. 29. Full schedule and tickets online at guildhall.org, (631) 324-4050.
    Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center has heartthrob Italian baritone Patrizio Buanne (May 26) and great jazz/swing guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli (May 27). Upcoming performers include Grammy Award winner Steve Tyrell (July 7), jazz stylist Dianne Reeves (June 8), blues/soul/hip-hop artist Gary Clark Jr. (June 15), reggae master Ziggy Marley (June 16), Robert Cray Band (June 23), Wayne Shorter Quartet (June 30), former Yankee great Bernie Williams, now a fine Latin/rock/jazz guitarist (July 14), Broadway star Bebe Neuwirth's Stories With Piano (July 15), and acclaimed Beatles cover band Fab Faux (July 21). PAC has children's programs and screens world cinema. Complete schedule and tickets at whbpac.org, (631) 288-1500.
    Part of Beth Rudin DeWoody's Southern California art collection is now at Southampton's Parrish Art Museum, and guest curator Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel's Landmarks of New York exhibit will feature there June 24 to Sept. 5. Landscape Pleasures weekend is June 9-10, and the elegant Midsummer Party is July 14.
    Other Hamptons cultural/entertainment spots include Amagansett's cozy Stephen Talkhouse club (Loudon Wainwright, June 6; Kinky Friedman, June 16; Southside Johnny, June 23; Dave Mason Band, July 14); BookHampton (bestselling authors' chat weekends at its four locations); Canio's Books, Sag Harbor (cartoonist Jules Feiffer on June 2, acclaimed espionage novelist Alan Furst on July 7). Upcoming benefits include Planned Parenthood's party at Bridgehampton's Silas Marder Gallery (May 27); Decorators-Designers-Dealers sale for Southampton Fresh Air Home (June 2); Artists Against Abuse auction (June 16); South Fork Natural History Museum party (Keith Richards' daughter Alexandra DJ-ing, June 16); and East End Hospice's Moonlight Luau (June 30). Fresh Air Home's All-American Picnic is July 6, and the Southampton Historical Museum gala is July 7. [HS]