Social, Cultural & Dining Hamptons

SHOPPING
It’s the busiest summer ever, led by an outbreak of new shops and restaurants. Let’s start in Southampton at Estée Lauder’s granddaughter Aerin’s eclectic boutique on Main Street. Move on to Isaac Mizrahi, then Shari’s Place (Shari Kayne), and Vines & Branches—all near Intermix and C.Wonder. On Job’s Lane, Ruby and Jenna, Missoni Home, and Joe Fresh join Alice + Olivia. Pottery Barn took over the former Saks location, and New York Sunshine Surf Club opened on Nugent Street. Heading east to Bridgehampton, Wampum is the new shop for skateboards, hand-printed tees, and more. Take a short drive north to Sag Harbor and check out loungewear emporium Relax Sag Harbor and casual beachwear at Breezin’ Up (both on Main Street), and the Asian-style spa Happy Feet (Bay Street).

Back on Montauk Highway, Wainscott gets Serena & Lily, a California-casual furniture/ home goods shop. Continue to East Hampton, where Australian skin-care company Aesop opened on Main Street, along with Alice + Olivia, Jack Rogers, and Milly. Salon Bar is the new spa/hair salon on Newtown Lane, and Bradford Method is the new exercise studio. Moving east to Amagansett, Encore Sports has it all (including tux rentals). On to Montauk, which welcomes Homeport Town’s real and fake jewelry, plus, on South Etna Avenue, Pier Group Sports and hand-painted beachwear at Made in Montauk.

BITES and CLUBS
The Montauk club scene is at Ruschmeyer’s, a hipster hangout, or the Surf Lodge, with a chic-er crowd plus Gurney’s Inn for special events. East Hampton’s club central is at 44 Three Mile Harbor Road, where Sienna Restaurant & Ultra Lounge morphs into Pink Elephant after 11 p.m. and SL East has the big, adjoining dance space (bottle/table service at both). Wainscott’s Georgica Restaurant and Lounge attracts models, actors, and musicians to its late-night club (bottle service). Southampton has the popular clubs South Pointe (Tuckahoe Rd.), Southampton Social Club (Elm St.), and 75 Main.

We covered new restaurants last month, so here are some old and new favorites. In Westhampton Beach, it’s Starr Boggs. In Southampton, BLT at Capri, Delmonico’s, Le Chef, Plaza Cafe, Nammos, 75 Main, Sant Ambroeus, Tutto il Giorno, and Coast Grill. Water Mill is home to Mirko’s, Robert’s, and Suki Zuki. The Bridgehampton best include Almond, Pierre’s, and World Pie. Sag Harbor has the American Hotel, Muse, Sen, Page, The Cuddy, and Madison & Main. In Sagaponack, it’s the Old Stove Pub. Wainscott has Georgica, and East Hampton has Nick & Toni’s, 1770 House, c/o the Maidstone, the Palm, and East Hampton Grill. Harvest and Dave’s Grill are Montauk pleasers.

PERFORMING ARTS
Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor: Charles Ludlam’s high-camp comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep is onstage through July 28, and the zany musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum runs Aug. 6 to Sept. 1. The Comedy Club continues Monday eves with David Brenner (July 22), Amy Schumer (Aug. 12), and Paula Poundstone (Aug.19). More comedienne/singers do a one-night-only Broads for Bay Street benefit Aug. 3 (Joy Behar, Susie Essman, Julie Halston, Angela LaGreca, Mercedes Ruehl). All Bay Street info is online at baystreet.org (631-725-9500).

East Hampton’s Guild Hall has Blythe Danner in three Noel Coward one-act comedies, Tonight at 8:30, through Aug. 4. The Clothesline Art Sale is Aug. 4, and the Chuck Close/Robert Starr art show opens Aug. 10. New York City Ballet stars dance Aug. 16, followed by Laurie Anderson on Aug. 17. NY Times food columnist Florence Fabricant talks with famous chefs Sundays in August at 11 a.m., and the Garden as Art benefit tour is Aug. 24. Wednesday afternoons are KidFEST shows, and celebrated documentaries run various evenings. Blues/jazz great Taj Mahal and Bettye LaVette perform Aug. 31, followed by Patti Smith on Sept. 1. Get the schedule and buy tickets online at guildhall.org (631-324-4050).

Some highlights from Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center’s stellar summer are the Zoppe Italian Family Circus (July 25–28), Beatles cover group Fab Faux (July 27), Natalie Cole (Aug. 3), Vince Gill (Aug. 11), Huey Lewis (Aug. 18), Pilobolus dance company (Aug. 24), Michael Bolton (Aug. 30), and Tommy Tune (Aug. 31). There are world cinema films midweek and outstanding children’s programming. Call 631-283- 1500 for tickets or visit whbpac.org. Riverhead’s elegantly restored Suffolk Theater features dinner shows (food by Tom Schaudel) with leading blues, rock, jazz, comedy, and cabaret performers (suffolktheater.com, 631-727-4343).

Legendary disco producer Nile Rodgers is organizing AFTEE, a big benefit dance party, Aug. 19 at Martha Clara Vineyards. The new Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill has an alternating Friday night music series with refreshments called Jazz en Plein Air and East End or Busk (parrishart.org). The classical music scene blazes with the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival opening July 24, Pianofest heading toward its fi nale, the Perlman Music Program offering works-in-progress on Shelter Island, Southampton Cultural Center presenting Rising Stars programs, and Opera of the Hamptons concertizing. Canio’s Books (Sag Harbor), Books & Books (Westhampton Beach), and all BookHampton stores have well-known authors reading from their latest work. Don’t forget the Hampton Classic Horse Show, Aug. 25 to Sept. 1.  [HS]