Dan's Papers - July 18, 2008 - Take Five 2007 with Jan Silver

Here comes another blockbuster week of five-star entertainment and enlightenment on the East End. For starters, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Kathleen Battle and comedian Brad Garrett take their turns on the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center stage. Alan Alda and Sigourney Weaver precede Winnie Holzman and Christopher Durang at Stony Brook Southampton's Avram Theater on Saturday and Monday. Durang's Beyond Therapy is also at Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre (with comedienne Caroline Rhea onstage at Bay Street's Comedy Club on Monday). Music Festival of the Hamptons concertizes Thursday through Monday this week, and Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival opens its 25th season with a free program outdoors next Wednesday.

The Riverhead Blues Festival has its 10th anniversary this weekend, and jazz great Paquito d'Rivera plays for the Arts in Southold Town series on Saturday night. Stony Brook Southampton's "Sustainable Pleasures" concerts continue with Joel Frahm's jazz group on July 17 and Sylvia McNair's cabaret performance July 24 ($15-45, 631-632-8000). The Perlman Music Program on Shelter Island (Fri. & Sat., 7:30 p.m., 731-749-1049) and Pianofest (Mon., 5 p.m., $15, Avram Theatre at Stony Brook Southampton) are in mid-season with talented, delightful informal performances. Accomplished authors Victoria Lustbader, John Gruen and Norris Church Mailer are among the writers speaking here this week, and a few outstanding world cinema features are on local screens. The 2008 Hamptons Designer Showhouse opens this weekend, the Bridgehampton Polo Club's high-goal polo matches start (4 p.m. Sat., Hayground Rd., $30 per car, bhpolo.com), and the SCOPE Hamptons art show opens next Thursday, 3 p.m., at East Hampton Studios, Wainscott.

Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center has a house & garden tour July 18 starting at 11 a.m. with lunch at Westhampton Country Club included ($100, $75 tour only, 631-288-1500). The Hamptons Designer Showhouse has a big preview opening July 18 at the new shingle-style "cottage," 59 Farm Court, Sagaponack (6-8:30 p.m., $250, for Southampton Hospital; call 631-537-0455 or HamptonDesignerShowhouse.com; daily tickets through Aug. 31 are $30). Bay Street Theatre's "Gala Benefit Bash" dinner dance on Sat. has a special performance by jazz pianist Judy Carmichael and the upcoming cast of Ain't Mishehavin', plus a "fantasy auction" conducted by comedian/actors Richard Kind and Caroline Rhea (6:30 p.m., $500, Sag Harbor, 631-725-0818). "Get Wild" is Wildlife Center of the Hamptons' cocktail party honoring Ellen & Chuck Scarborough and Marcy & Michael Warren at a Southampton estate (6-8:30 p.m., July 19, $200, 631-329-5480). Pianofest's Garden Party and concert at Madoo Conservancy, Sagaponack, is Sat., 5 p.m. ($75, 631-329-9115). "Night at the Light" is Montauk Chamber of Commerce's cocktail party to maintain the Montauk Lighthouse (Sat., 5 to 9 p.m., with celebrity bartenders, Long Island wines, good eats and music; $75, 631-668-2428 or MontaukChamber.com). World crafts guru Jack Lenor Larsen's stunning LongHouse Reserve holds its annual dinner dance with art-and-craft-filled silent auction amid its unique East Hampton gardens on Sat. (6 p.m., 631-329-3568).

On Sunday morning, you might see vintage and classic autos touring around for the "Tour de Hamptons Rallye" for The Retreat ($125 entry fee, 631-329-4398 or theretreatinc.org). The Peconic Land Trust's popular "Through Farms and Fields Country Supper" is Sunday, 5:30-9 p.m., at Whitecap Farm, Mecox Rd., Water Mill ($250, 631-283-3195 or PeconicLandTrust.org). EEGO, the East End Gay Organization, and SAGE Foundation (for seniors) hold a joint tea dance Sunday from 6 p.m. at Lily Pond, 44 Three Mile Harbor Rd., East Hampton ($30-35, 631-324-3699, eego.org or sageusa.org).

The 33rd Summer Writers Conference at Stony Brook University's Southampton campus has two special theatrical events this week. On Saturday, Alan Alda, Sigourney Weaver and Havilah Brewster read two new one-acters by novelist/essayist/playwright Roger Rosenblatt (sold out) but tickets to next Monday's "Two Very Funny People, One Wonderful Evening," the 8 p.m. reading of new work by award-winning playwrights Winnie Holzman and Christopher Durang, are available at 631-632-5032 ($15 adults, $10 for seniors, students).

Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre continues its run of Durang's comedy Beyond Therapy. The show runs Tuesday to Sunday through July 27; tickets are $50-65. On Monday at 8 p.m., comedienne Caroline Rhea is Bay Street Comedy Club's headliner ($50). All Bay Street tickets are sold at the box office (631-725-9500) or online at baystreet.org.

Comic TV actor Brad Garrett returns to his stand-up roots Sunday, 8:30 p.m., at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center ($95-145, 631-288-1500 or online whbpac.org). Actress Dorothy Leeds performs the provocative "Good Lessons from Bad Women"- based on such ladies as Eve, Mae West and Eleanor Roosevelt (7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Montauk Library (gratis).

The Music Festival of the Hamptons has four programs this week. Pianist Sandro Russo, clarinetist Anna Temin and flautist Claire Temin perform July 18, 8 p.m.at Wolffer Estate Vineyard, Sagaponack. On Sunday, 11 a.m. at the Festival tent in Bridgehampton, Victoria Bond conducts the Mayan folktale "The Corn in the Rock" at CMEE and Sunday evening, 8 p.m., the Festival Trio of violist Michael Klotz, clarinetist Vadim Lando and pianist Pippa Borisy concertize in Sag Harbor (special pre-concert dinner at American Hotel includes reserved seats). On Monday, 8 p.m., pianist Ling Hong and cellist Rafal Jezierski are the evening's artists at Wölffer Estate Vineyards. Tickets range from $5 for children up to $50 for reserved seats, with some midweek programs free to AARP members. Call the Festival at 631-267-8293, 800-644-4418 or online at musicfestivalofthehamptons.com for tickets and information.

Grammy Award-winning lyric soprano Kathleen Battle sings a selection of classical songs and popular standards at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ($100-150, 631-288-1500 or whbpac.org). South African-born jazz saxophonist Morris Goldberg and his combo OJOYO give a concert Saturday, 8 p.m., at the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, East Hampton ($15-35, 631-324-9858 ext. 201). Paquito D'Rivera, well-known cool jazz player, performs at Southold High School on Sat., 7:30 p.m. ($45 adults, $10 students; reservations 631-734-6320). The 10th Riverhead Blues Festival, organized by the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall, runs Sat. & Sun. ending with fireworks Sun. night (631-727-5782 or vail-leavitt.org).

The revered and lively Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival opens its 25th season next Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., with a free concert at the Bridgehampton Historical Society on Main St. (bring seating and a picnic supper). Twelve programs will follow though August 17. Call 631-537-6368 or go online to bcmf.org for schedule and ticket information.

Recommended music at local clubs and restaurants: Montauk - live band Sat. at Surf Lodge; music Sun. afternoon at Montauk Yacht Club and Mon. at Gosman's Dock, comedy Wed. at Gurney's Inn; Amagansett - live music weekends at Surf Shack, at the Stephen Talkhouse on Fri., singer/songwriter Marshall Crenshaw (7 p.m.), then Blue Jackets followed by Nancy Atlas; on Sat., blues/surf/alt. with Matty Liot & The Big Up then pop rock band The Giving Tree; on Sun., the great Richie Havens then reggae with Winston Irie; on Wed., folk music's Aztec Two-Step, on Thurs., Nancy Atlas; East Hampton - Mambo Loco on Sat. at Fiddler's Cove, Mamalee Rose & friends at Turtle Crossing on Fri., reggae Sun. 6 to 9 p.m. at East Hampton Point; Sagaponack - wine & jazz with Alfredo Merat on Thurs. at Wolffer Estate; Bridgehampton - light jazz with Vanessa Trouble on Sun. & and Jody Carlson on Tues. at Pierre's, singer Monica Hughes at One Ocean on Thurs.; Sag Harbor - live music Thurs. at Bay Burger; Water Mill - singer/guitarist Steve Fredericks on Thurs. at Muse; Southampton - Jim Turner at OSO/Southampton Inn on Fri., live music weekends at 75 Main and Regulars Music Caféé, Sunnyland Jazz Band at Le Chef on Thurs., Hampton Bays - live music Fri. at Buckley's; Westhampton Beach - live music Fri. at Annona, live music Thurs. to Sat. at The Patio, live music weekends at Westhampton Steakhouse (Swingset Quartet on Thurs.), live music weekends at Artful Dodger, live music Thurs. to Sun. at Starr Boggs; East Quogue - at Dockers Waterside on Fri., Dave Tyler, and Sun., Paul Mahos; Riverhead - Contractors Band at Stonewall's on Fri., live music weekends at Tweed's and Eastenders Coffee House.

The "Fridays at Five" speaker is philanthropist/humanitarian Anthony Drexel Duke talking about his memoir Unchartered Course: The Voyage of My Life (St. Ann's Episcopal Church, Bridgehampton). Guild Hall curator Christina Strassfield speaks about the current "Inspired by the Light" exhibit Sat., 3:30 p.m., at the East Hampton cultural center. John Gruen reads at BookHampton, Southampton, Sat. at 5 p.m. from his well-received memoir Callas Kissed Me... Lenny, Too! Norris Church Mailer reads from her novel Cheap Diamonds on Sun., 5 p.m., at the Quogue Library ($20).

Dan's Papers founder Dan Rattiner reads from his popular memoir In the Hamptons Sun., 11 a.m., at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. The Poetry Marathon readers this Sun., 4 p.m., at Amagansett's Marine Museum are Carol Muske Dukes and Star Black. Authors Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith talk about Jackson Pollock and Vincent van Gogh at the annual Pollock-Krasner lecture at Stony Brook Southampton at 5 p.m. Sun. ($10 or $5 for members at the door). The Beach Chair Poetry readers next Thurs., 5 p.m. at Southampton's Halsey Homestead are Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan, David Bunn Martine, Sarah Gutowski and Drew Moss. Novelist Victoria Lustbader reads from Stone Creek at the Authors Round Table Dinner, Alison's at the Maidstone Arms, next Thurs., 6 p.m. (dinner $39, reservations 631-324-5440).

Bay Street Theatre premieres Dr. John-Roger's spiritual fantasy film Spiritual Warriors today, 3 p.m., Sag Harbor (free). Guild Hall's "Gems from the Janus Collection" classic next Tues., 7:30 p.m., is Teshigahara's Woman in the Dunes (Japan, 1964, $3-5). Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center's world cinema feature this Tues. through Thurs.at 8 p.m. is The Edge of Heaven (England/Turkey/Germany, 2007, $3-$10).