Celebs expected at Hampton International Film Festival

Tuesday October 6, 2009 12:50 PM By Rafer Guzman

Now that the summer party season is over, the 17th annual Hamptons International Film Festival is just beginning.

Regulars to this shoulder-season cultural tourism draw will note that it has been bumped up one week (to the long Columbus Day weekend) and one day (it starts on a Thursday rather than a Wednesday). And the headquarters are no longer East Hampton's The Huntting Inn but the nearby and newly spiffed-up Maidstone Hotel. (Beg your pardon -- it's officially called "c/o The Maidstone," an odd name that may take a while to catch on.)

The festival's boldface-name quotient is looking promising. Remember last year's mostly empty red carpets, and the bored paparazzi reduced to chasing Judith Giuliani? This year's "expected" guests include Sharon Stone, Pierce Brosnan, Alan Alda, Steve Buscemi, Ethan Hawke, Cheryl Hines and Bryce Dallas Howard, among others. Directors MiraNair and James Toback will also be anchoring events.

Note that the festival is calling these people "expected." That means there ain't no guarantees. Already Emma Stone has dropped out of the fest to promote her current hit "Zombieland," and Neve Campbell won't be showing up with the documentary she narrates, "Dirty Oil." But Stone is a safe bet (she's getting an Outstanding Achievement in Acting award) and we can always depend on longtime festival supporter Alec Baldwin to bring some juice.

Films to look forward to, in no particular order:

"City of Life and Death," a Chinese drama that made a splash at Toronto recently; "The Young Victoria," starring Emily Blunt as the rising English queen; "The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond," starring Bryce Dallas Howard and based on a long-forgotten Tennessee Williams screenplay; an advance peek at the George Clooney comedy-drama "Up in the Air"; and the closing film, Terry Gilliam's much anticipated (and somewhat dreaded) fantasy "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," the last movie to feature Heath Ledger.

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Housewives Watch: Countess LuAnn de Lesseps raises money

Tuesday September 15, 2009 10:10 AM By Lee Fryd

Countess LuAnn de Lesseps brought her Hamptons crowd Saturday night – and a DJ -- to OSO, Dede Gotthelf’s Southampton Inn restaurant, to benefit the Auditory Oral School of New York. This is a favorite cause for the Countess, who serves as its honorary chair. She hosted seven events in the past three years, including one with Jane Fonda, since party co-host, producer Patty Watt, brought it to her attention.

The charity hit home for de Lesseps because the Count had lost hearing in one ear. Since then, the Countess shed the Count -- they are divorcing--but gained the blessing of helping hundreds of hearing-impaired toddlers. The school teaches them to listen, speak and, then, mainstream, particularly after receiving cochlear implants. Within the next year, an auditory school will open on Long Island to augment its current outreach program.

Chief executive Theresa Bulger announced a Countess’ “Royal Circle,” which will give contributors the opportunity to attend events and pledge a monthly stipend. “As little as ten dollars a month can maintain a child’s hearing apparatus,” Bulger explained.

Photo by Lee Fryd

Celeb spotting in the Hamptons: Avril Lavigne

Thursday September 10, 2009 1:51 PM By Valerie Kellogg

Avril Lavigne was recently spotted shopping at Blue & Cream in East Hampton, reports OK! magazine.

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Celeb spotting in the Hamptons: Khloe Kardashian

Thursday September 10, 2009 1:31 PM By Valerie Kellogg

Realty TV star Khloe Kardashian recently got a makeover from Maybelline New York and Garnier Surf Salon for "a summer night out" at Montauk's Surf Lodge, Star magazine recently reported.

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Housewives Watch: Ramona Singer to sell jewelry on HSN

Wednesday September 9, 2009 11:43 AM By Lee Fryd

Ramona Singer had a very social Labor Day weekend with her fellow “Real Housewives of New York” cast members. Yes, dear fans, the contracts are signed and the reality cameras are rolling. The new season will once again kick off behind the Hamptons hedges. “There will be surprises,” is all Ramona will say. But, our sources tell us, the drama quotient is already high: There are new tensions, new alliances, and plenty of tears. And the glamour quotient gets bumped up: We’ll see the girls take to the seas on a yacht.

Fans can tap into that glamour without breaking the bank and get their Ramona fix before the season starts. She’ll be on Home Shopping Network at 10 p.m. Sept. 14 and 2 a.m.  Sept. 13 (for night owls) selling the signature jewelry she wears on and off camera. She designed the line of diamond and semi precious stone estate jewelry, all selling for under $500. “Everything is real,” Ramona says. “All the pieces are rodium plated, an alloy of platinum that always looks as good as the first time you put it on.”

Pictured is one best seller, blue topaz cushion cut stone earrings surrounded by blue sapphires that Ramona says were inspired by estate pieces Mario gave her.

Ramona says designing the jewelry was a natural progression for her. She’s been in the fashion business since graduating the Fashion Institute of Technology 30 years ago, first as a buyer for Macy's, then as a wholesaler for the French Connection and Calvin Klein. The fashion brokerage company she founded helped buy her Hamptons dream home. Now, she’s reveling in the opportunity to market her creative inspirations.

Ramona’s husband, Mario, recently surprised her with his own marketing prowess. “He gave me this leather jewelry box and said, ‘Surprise, honey,’” she says. “You can imagine what I thought.” Well, there were baubles inside ... their True Faith line of travel jewelry. It was a sample briefcase for sales reps to bring to Tupperware-style parties. And it really was just what she wanted. “Usually you have to tell your husband to do this stuff, but Mario did it all on his own,” says the happy “housewife.” These pieces are still estate inspired and sell for under $200

“Estate jewelry is timeless,” Ramona explains. “When I give my jewelry to my daughter, I want it to be something she will wear.”

Permission Ramona Singer

What happened in the Hamptons

Tuesday September 8, 2009 4:31 PM By Beth Whitehouse

James Lipton of Bravo’s “Inside the Actors Studio” had dinner with French actor Jean Reno (“The Pink Panther,” “The Da Vinci Code”) and Reno’s wife at Nick & Toni’s in East Hampton on Friday ...
During the first Hamptons Ferrari Rally on Saturday, an array of 40 Ferrari Italian automobiles traveled through East Hampton, Amagansett, Sag Harbor and Southampton before ending at Georgica Restaurant & Lounge in East Hampton, where the cars were displayed. Attendees included New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes and celebrity stylist and judge of ABC’s “True Beauty” Nolé Marin ...
Hugh Grant and his brother Jamie Grant were supporting men Saturday when their dad, James Grant, kicked off his watercolor exhibiting at the Keszler Gallery on Main Street, Southampton. The exhibition benefitted the Southampton Fresh Air Home for children ...
Jon Gosselin dined at Philippe Eat Hampton on Saturday evening with several friends. Bethenny Frankel of “The Real Housewives of New York City” also chose Philippe as her dinner locale the same evening ...
Over at Nick & Toni’s, Starbucks bigwig Howard Schultz and his wife and kids were spotted ...
Danny Glover starred with Kathleen Chalfant in a reading of “Emmett Down in My Heart” at 8 p.m. Saturday at The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, 158 Main St., East Hampton. Linda Powell was also in the play, and Powell’s dad, Colin Powell, came to applaud. B. Smith and Alan Alda were also among the audience ...
Media mogul Mort Zuckerman led a free discussion about President Barack Obama’s foreign policy with more than 400 people attending Sunday at the Jewish Center of the Hamptons in East Hampton.
“House” star Peter Jacobson was spotted at Rowdy Hall in East Hampton on Monday Night having dinner with family.

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What's happening this weekend in the Hamptons

Friday September 4, 2009 4:08 PM By Beth Whitehouse

Social Life magazine is hosting a private party tonight at Georgica, 109 Wainscott Stone Road in Wainscott, in honor of the September issue’s cover celebrity, Bethenny Frankel of “The Real Housewives of New York City" ...
The Nature Conservancy’s Fifth Annual Labor Day Landscape Show, “A Walk on the Wild Side” is Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Ashawagh Hall on Springs-Fireplace Road and Old Stone Highway in Springs. Event is free but works of painters such as Gordon Matheson, Casey Chalem Anderson and Grant Haffner will be on exhibit and a portion of any sales will go to the Conservancy. The gallery reception is 5 p.m. Saturday. Alec Baldwin is known to show at the annual event ...

During the first Hamptons Ferrari Rally on Saturday, an array of Ferrari Italian automobiles will travel through East Hampton, Amagansett, Sag Harbor and Southampton from 1 to 3 p.m. before ending at Georgica Restaurant & Lounge in East Hampton, where the 35 plus collectible cars while be displayed until 6 p.m. Guests at the private party inside are scheduled to include Maurizio Parlato (chief executive of Ferrari North America), Alessandro Nasi (vice president of Fiat) and Eddie Irvine (former F1 Ferrari Driver). Hosted by Nikki Beach Midtown and Nathaniel Christian ...

Hugh Grant’s dad, James Grant, is doing a show this weekend called “James Grant Watercolors” at Keszler Gallery at 45 Main St. in Southampton. The opening is 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Word is Hugh will be there. No cameras allowed, says gallery owner Stephan Keszler...

Danny Glover is set to star in a reading of “Emmett Down in My Heart” at 8 p.m. Saturday at The John Drew Theater at Guild Hall, 158 Main St., East Hampton. Kathleen Chalfant and Linda Powell are also in the play, and Powell’s father, Colin Powell, will be in the audience. Tickets are $100 and include a reception with the cast; without reception tickets are $40 for Guild Hall members and $42 for the general public. Benefits the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center; 631-324-0806 ...
Media mogul Mort Zuckerman will lead a free discussion about President Barack Obama’s foreign policy at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, 44 Woods Lane, East Hampton ...
A rain-or-shine concert featuring John Fogerty benefits the Group for the East End on Sunday evening. The sold-out concert, called “Eco Rockin' All Over the World” is behind held at the home of Katherine and Marco Birch on Shelter Island.

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Housewives Watch: Ramona Singer cuts her hair

Friday September 4, 2009 2:11 PM By Valerie Kellogg

Southampton resident Ramona Singer of "The Real Housewives of New York City" is known for her ability to create drama: In explaining why she recently cut her hair before a Hamptons gala, she said, "I wanted to shake things up," according to Star. Now she reportedly has regrets. That weekend at polo, she said she wished she'd never done it because, the magazine reports, "No one recognizes me!"

Photo by Gina Tomitz

Housewives Watch: Filming begins in the Hamptons

Thursday September 3, 2009 12:49 PM By Valerie Kellogg

Filming for the new season of "The Real Housewives of New York City" begins this Labor Day weekend in the Hamptons, according to Bravo. It's about time. In the meantime, check out where the ladies lay their heads when they crash on the East End by clicking here.

Permission Bravo