Jean Shafiroff and Fern Mallis at the Southampton Hospital Kickoff Party, photo by Lieba Nesis
If you weren’t one of the fortunate 350 invited to Michael Rubin’s July 4th white party such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Drake; there were still plenty alternate happenings during the mobbed Hamptons weekend.
Beginning with Friday night July 5th when Jean and Martin Shafiroff held their annual kickoff cocktail party for the Southampton Hospital Foundation where music by Alex Donner entertained as the over one hundred person crowd enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, fraternization and picture-taking.
Luiza Petre, Devorah Rose and Maria Fishel at Hospital Kickoff, photo by Lieba Nesis
Jean spoke of the importance of the Stony Brook Hospital which became a Level 3 trauma center in May 2021 as guests such as Fern Mallis, Maria and Ken Fishel, and John Wambold lent support. With an admittance rate of 6,000 patients annually as well as 25,000 emergency departments visits each year this 125-bed edifice is a pivotal part of the Hamptons scenery.
William and Mar Morosse, Jacques Acoca at Hospital Kickoff Party, photo by Lieba Nesis
I have never seen the Hamptons as packed as long lines awaited Citarella shoppers and restaurant reservations at hotspots Bilboquet, and Tutto Il Giorno were near impossibilities. Southampton Publick House and 75 Main restaurant were overrun with college students looking to blow off some steam and escape their parent’s vast Hamptons mansions.
Jean Shafiroff, Rebecca Seawright and Alex Hamer at Halsey House, photo by Lieba Nesis
Saturday was more fun in the not so much sun as a deep mist engulfed the Hamptons as the Halsey House held its annual gala which this year honored Chuck Scarborough for his 50 years with NBC. With Jean Shafiroff and Doug Halsey as co-chairs the evening had a homey vibe as guests were encouraged to wear festive cocktail attire and a band played some favorites such as “I Will Survive” and “Billie Jean.” Food and drinks were plentiful as guests danced up a storm during the opening of the lively Hamptons season.
The Halsey House has a rich history as a historic house converted into a museum which was built by Thomas Halsey Jr. in 1683, the son of pioneer Thomas Halsey Sr. Herb and flower gardens, an orchard, and 17th and 18th century furnishings along with a rare 16th century Breeches Bible are some of the artifacts ensconced in this treasure.
Maria and Ken Fishel, photo by Lieba Nesis
At 8 PM the party concluded and guests ran to the 20th annual “Hamptons Happening” Samuel Waxman Cancer Foundation gala at the home of Maria and Ken Fishel. Delicious samplings of food from dozen of premier restaurants including Taco Mahal, Lulu, Night Inn, Magnolia Bakery and Francois Payard made the $450 ticket price the bargain of the century.
Sylvia Hemingway, Elizabeth Steimberg, Mar Morosse, and Lucia Hwong Gordon at Hospital gala, photo by Lieba Nesis
Esteemed honorees Arthur Backal, Chef Francois Payard, Cheri Kaufman, Stephen Kliegerman and Fern Mallis received awards to salute their efforts in fighting cancer. As DJ CherishTheLuv spun tunes the ebullient and festive crowd danced the night away until close to midnight, when Ken and Maria Fishel decided to call it a night.
The Fishels open their Bridgehampton estate to a half a dozen spectacular fetes in the summer including Polo on July 20th and 27th, The French Heritage Summer Soiree on July 19th, and a benefit for the Haiti Air Ambulance on August 17th.
David Rosenberg at his July 6th bash, photo by Lieba Nesis
After being nearly partied out I headed to the palatial Bridgehampton home of FinTech mogul David Rosenberg for his annual July 4th bash. As hundreds of revelers were turned away by police Rosenberg outdid himself with a spectacular guest list that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Dorsey, Michael Rubin, Luka Sabbat, Brooks Nader, and Corey Gamble with ASAP Ferg performing.
Rosenberg, one of the lowest key power players in the tech world can frequently be seen in Bridgehampton buying ice cream with his mother- his 24/7 companion. His generosity in opening up his vast estate to hundreds with a lavish fireworks display, a delectable ice cream truck, nonstop drinks and the best entertainment around led this year to be the best ever as guests partied until after 3 AM.
With nightlife expert Richie Akiva leading the musical repertoire a packed dance floor was a certainty as was a gaggle of top tier models. As I exited the party a guest with mud all over his white pants and shirt explained that the guards closed the gate so he had to climb through the bushes-ambitious party-going is what the Hamptons is all about.
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