By Holly Buchanan
“I’d love to hug you but I’m too sweaty” was a common refrain at The 25th Annual Hamptons Tea Dance yesterday.  The weather was actually spectacular.  It was less the heat than the dance floor gyrations that caused the “spritzing” of so many party goers.
 
Once again DJ Lady Bunny kept the dance floor packed from the first song to Donna Summer’s “Last Dance.”

There will be a special showing of Elephant Art by Samantha Taylor at the Eileen Fisher store in East Hampton.   Join the reception Saturday, October 8 from 4 to 6 and meet the artist Samantha Taylor.
Taylor grew up in Kenya and brings her love of elephants, Africa and its beautiful people to her paintings.    If you are out and about at the Hampton Film Festival, stop by for refreshments and see the show at the Eileen Fisher store, 26 Newton Lane in …

Where can you experience rejuvenating kundalini yoga, meditation for people who cannot stop thinking, soulful funky reggae, shamanic healings, reiki, thai messge, organic cooking classes, a special village just for kids and a sacred sound gong circle….all in one place?
Hamptons YogaFest returns August 26 – 28 at Hayground School in Bridgehampton.
Building on last year’s inaugural gathering, the 2nd Annual Hamptons YogaFest will unite yogis, artists, musicians, children, healers and visionaries from the local community and beyond.   See the complete schedule here.

 
Some of the best shopping this weekend is at the East Hampton Antiques Show  at Mulford Farm to benefit the East Hampton Historical Society.  All different design periods are represented with chic items ranging from indoor and outdoor furniture to fine art, jewelry and even an amazing captain’s costume that would make Johnny Depp jealous.

 
The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey opens July 18 and runs through July 24 at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor.
Get your tickets now.
James Lecesne brings his award winning solo stage performance to Bay Street for a tour de force where he plays all nine characters.
“Absolute Brightness” is written and performed by James Lecesne, music by Duncan Sheik, directed by Tony Speciale, and is produced by special arrangement with Darren Bagert and Daryl Roth.

By Heather Buchanan
Think of it as a fantastic literary mosh pit. An enthusiastic crowd of 2,000 mingled last Saturday with 100 authors at the 11th Annual Authors Night Benefit for East Hampton Library under a tent of titans of words. Considered one of the nation’s leading annual literary celebrations, the night begins with guests interacting with their favorite and new authors to get books personally inscribed, take selfies, and ask one another in excited hushed tones, “Who’s your literary crush?”

There are a few magical moments when the Hamptons transform into a worthy wonderland – namely the best Hamptons fundraisers.   These fantastic events not only raise money for various causes but create memorable evenings.   Think of it as tax deductible decadence.
A few HipHamptons tips:

Find out how you can get involved beyond writing a check.
Ladies remember flats and wedges are your friends. Stilettos only work if you are aerating a lawn.
Silent Auctions are goldmines of great items at discount prices.
Bring your business card …

Throw your hands in the air!   Get ready to raise the roof on the best Hamptons Tea Dance ever!  Join the Empire State Pride Agenda Saturday July 18 for an epic party and historic victory.  Love Wins!  Join in the celebration Saturday July 18 from 4 to 8 pm at the Ark Project in Watermill, NY.
There’s dancing, there’s fun, there are activities for the little ones.   Join hundreds of supporters and friends of the Pride Agenda! DJ Lady Bunny returns to …

2014 East Hampton House & Garden Tour
Benefiting the East Hampton Historical Society,
Cocktails and Tour Welcome in the Holiday Season

Opening Night Cocktail Party: Friday, November 28 (6 – 8:30 p.m.)
House Tour: Saturday, November 29 (1 – 4:30 p.m.)

The East Hampton Historical Society is proud to announce its 2014 House & Garden Tour, showcasing some of the finest examples of architecture in the Hamptons.  This year’s tour – comprising five noteworthy homes & gardens – is scheduled …

A summer ritual is to hear Hamptons live music in the great outdoors.  The number one Montauk destination, Surf Lodge, is concluding their summer ticketed concert series with a performance by Sky Ferreira on Sunday, August 24th.  The 200 tickets are exclusively available through eBay Giving Works through August 18th for the private concert.  Tickets are $100.
100% of the proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Montauk Playhouse. Direct link to ticket sales here :: www.ebay.com/surflodge
Sky Ferreira is …

By Heather Buchanan
Bridgehampton Polo is the après beach destination for Saturday afternoons running through August 23rd.  Top players and their amazingly agile ponies take to the field for fierce competition.  While these pros make it look easy, it’s far from a ride through the park.  Sylvester Stallone once said, “Playing polo is like trying to play golf during an earthquake.”

There’s plenty of social action field side as well with viewing options which range from a blanket by the field enjoying  gourmet food …

By Heather Buchanan
Photos by LILA PHOTO
They say that too many chefs in the kitchen is a bad thing but at the Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival that proved quite untrue.  When it’s Daniel Boulud, David Burke, and Todd English all you can say is “I’m in.”  Taste buds were percolating in anticipation and promises of pilates and green juicing quickly went out the window in favor of a foie gras hotdog and baba with rum gelée and vanilla Chantilly.
For snowbirds heading …

By Heather Buchanan
Greetings at the third annual Harvest East End Food and Wine Classic went something like this:
“Orlmmm, yermm, hold on a sec and let me get a napkin.”  With so many delectable edibles and fine wines, it was literally hard to get a word in edgewise. Organized by Merliance and the Long Island Wine Council and presented by Wine Spectator, Harvest East End was the epicurean destination, held this year at the regal Hampton Classic show grounds.

Attention literary snow birds: for those of you heading to Palm Beach you can experience two of our favorite things – warm weather and amazing authors.  In its eighth year the Author Breakfast Series at the Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club kicks off on Friday Jan 20th and runs through March.  You’ll get to interact with wonderful authors many whom have Hampton ties as well such as Nelson DeMille and Ivana Lowell whose amazing memoir “Why Not Say What Happened?” includes …

In the category of You Can’t Make This **** Up:
A sales clerk at a designer East Hampton boutique had wayyyy too many mojitos at lunch and stole not only some pricey garments but also all the cash in the register (do people actually still buy things with cash?)  He went on the lam and was chased on foot by police.  After the officer fell the criminal had the great idea to duck into a high end hair salon.

By Holly Buchanan
 I have found my new favorite sport – stand-up paddleboarding.   The only thing better than doing stand-up paddleboarding in the Hamptons is doing stand-up paddleboarding with Paddle Diva. 
 These are my people.
 
Paddle Diva was founded by Gina Bradley in the summer of 2009.  Gina felt women were completely underserved in the Stand-Up Paddleboarding (SUP) market.  She knew this was an activity that was going to explode with women.  Thus Paddle Diva was born.