South O' the Highway... (and the North too)

Samantha Cole of Water Mill and her partner, Mani Malee, have launched Hampton Angels, which offers party planning and concierge services. There will be a launch party this Friday at Sen Lounge in Sag Harbor to formally kick off this exciting new venture.

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Sag Harbor's John Stewart might be entertaining thoughts of moving his late-night show from Comedy Central to NBC. Stewart and his agent, James Dixon, were treated to a lavish dinner by NBC Universal President and Chief Executive Jeff Zucker and NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios Chair Marc Graboff, who made it known to the star that they would be interested in working with him in the near future.

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who visits the Hamptons every summer to watch his daughter, Georgina, a professional rider and founder of The Rider's Closet charity, compete in the Hampton Classic, stated his opinions about the current state of our Nation at a meeting at Google headquarters in California last Monday, fueling rumors that he could be yet another Presidential candidate with ties to the Hamptons.

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Hamptons celebrities turned out in full force to support the family of the late Claudia Cohen, one of New York's greatest socialites and the former editor of "Page Six" who died last week at the age of 56. Revlon mogul Ronald Perleman, Claudia's ex-husband, and their daughter, Samantha, both spoke beautifully of the great lady. Among the guests were such Hamptons notables as Calvin Klein, Carolina Hererra, Regis Philbin, Ellen Barkin, Jon Bon Jovi, Lorraine Bracco, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Diane Von Furstenberg, Frank and Kathy Lee Gifford, Rudy and Judith Giuliani, Matt Lauer, Penny Marshall and Liz Smith.

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The Ferregut Tower Gallery director, Yolanda Merchant, will curate a show of Dan Rattiner's ink drawings at the Southampton Inn on Hill Street in Southampton. The show, titled Ode to the East End, which closed prematurely because of the Ferregut Tower Gallery building not meeting current building code, will reopen at the Inn on June 25 and remain on display until September 11. An artist's reception is planned for July 7, from 5-8 p.m. The exhibition premiered at the Ferregut Tower Gallery in February and will be on view at the Inn for the summer of 2007 before it travels to Boston, Massachusetts this winter.

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Ernie Els, one of the top five professional golfers in the world, relaxed at the Southampton Publick House last week after practicing at nearby greens in preparation for the U.S. Open in Oakmont. He then headed over to the Sebonack Golf Club for the night.

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Last week, East Hampton hotspot Nick & Toni's was brimming with celebrities. On Wednesday, movie mogul Barry Sonnefeld dined there with his wife and on Friday night, Martha Stewart enjoyed dinner with her friends in the front room. Dermatologist to the stars Pat Wexler and Sally Hershberger, the genius behind Meg Ryan's signature shag, both had dinner there on Saturday and on Sunday, Partner of the NY Mets Richard Wilpon had Father's Day dinner there with his family.

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Margo Pellegrino, a stay-at-home mother of two, is rapidly approaching the East End on her 2000-mile, 11-week solo-paddling trip from Miami to Maine in her 20-foot outrigger canoe. Pellegrino departed Miami on May 6 and is scheduled to arrive the South Fork on or near June 30. The Surfrider Foundation's Eastern Long Island Chapter, along with other local environmental groups, is planning a welcome event on Shinnecock Bay in Hampton Bays, just south of the Shinnecock Canal. Averaging approximately 40 miles per day, she hopes to reach Camden, Maine in late July, making 74 stops along the way to discuss the threats facing our oceans today.

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Up and coming Long Island-based jazz ensemble, Luma, will perform at Starbucks in Astor Place on Tuesday, June 19, as part of the Avant-Grande Music Finals. The band; which includes Dan Lauter on saxaphone, Jeff Marchall on bass and Claes Brondal on drums; will also be featured at an open house event in East Hampton hosted by Prudential Douglas Elliman later this summer. The open house will be styled by Prudential Douglas Elliman's manager, Patrick McLauglin of Sag Harbor. LUMA's Jazz Single, "Ever So Slow," written by Dan Lauter, is currently the music for Starbucks' National XM Satellite & Radio Ad Campaign and is featured in the April Hear Music Compilation CD Release, "Off The Clock."

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Former Yankees stars Darryl Strawberry and Jim Leyritz and Joey Gian of "Knot's Landing," will read from Ray Negron's Children's book, The Boy of Steel, at Bronx's Paradise Theater on August 18 to benefit the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.

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On June 29, Guild Hall presents its season opener with John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey at The Maidstone Tennis Club in East Hampton. Cocktails and dinner will preclude the performance. Please call Guild Hall's Development Office at (631) 324-0806 for tickets.

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On Saturday, June 30 Vered Gallery will host a preview party in preparation for their Semi-Annual Auction to support the FIDF, which will take place on Sunday, July 8. 100% of proceeds will go towards programs sponsored by the FIDF. To donate artwork, please send pictures to janetlehr@veredart.com.

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Over 800 people are expected to attend the 20th annual 4th of July celebration on Friday, June 29 to benefit the Southampton Fresh Air Fund with Grucci fireworks set to patriotic music over the Shinnecock Bay. Guests will include Christina and Anthony Addison; Tania and Brian Higgins; Barbara and Jack Kugler; Christl and Ken Meszkat; Cathy and Malcolm Price; Katie and Dhiren Shah; Catherine Montezemolo; Claire and Jim Mulholland; Barbara Smith; Pamela Michaelcheck; Pamela Rollins Camacho; Susan Nappa Cocke; Kirsten Solsvig Galef; Michaela Keszler; Heather Leeds; Danielle Ganek; Kim White; Peri Bogert; Mildred Brinn; Kathryn Cowles; Barbara Glatt; Ann Grimm; Leila Heller; Barbara Kugler; Ellen L'Esperance; Ros L'Esperance; Emily Chien Mahoney; Barbara McEntee and Sarah Senbahar. Gabrielle Ross, who recently won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre, will sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." For tickets, please call (631) 283-5847.

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Bridgehampton's Robert Rufino, Vice-President of Creative Services at Tiffany & Co., is featuring local artist Michelle Marie's work in the widows of his company's flagship store on Fifth Avenue for three weeks. Southampton's Janna Bullock also has Marie's work on display next to pieces by Peter Beard, Robert Indiana and Andy Warhol in her Art House on Meadow Lane. Southampton's R. Couri Hay hosted a festive cocktail party celebrating Michelle Marie's accomplishments as an artist at Doubles in New York City and Ruth Vered will have a show of Marie's work, opening on July 27th, at Vered Gallery in East Hampton.

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