South O' the Highway (and the North too)

The Hamptons' own Ralph Lauren outfitted nearly 600 of the world's best athletes for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The design, which features ivory pants, a navy blue blazer and a white twill hat, and could easily be worn out to dinner on the South Fork, debuted on the American team last week at the Opening Ceremony in the Beijing National Stadium.

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New York's most popular TV weatherman, Mr. G, kept his eye on the storm from Gurney's Inn during the tornado warning last Thursday night. Using General Manager Paul Monte's office computer, he followed the storm as it passed over the East End. He correctly predicted that "the tornadic activity would not hit Montauk." He and his family enjoyed a wonderful week at Gurney's, and enjoyed the spa, salon, Sea Grille and private beach to the fullest.

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The pageantry of Rabbi Marc Schneier's political friends continues at The Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach. Following Governor David Paterson's historic appearance were New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

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Songstress Mariah Carey and husband Nick Cannon attended a party with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Ripa, Samuel L. Jackson and Star Jones at Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid's Sagaponack home last weekend. The happy couple is in town kicking off their honeymoon at an East Hampton farm, which they reportedly rented for $125,000 for the week.

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Former Governor Hugh Carey and his family hosted a fundraiser for Governor Paterson at their home on Shelter Island last weekend. In addition to helping to raise money, Carey, who worked to solve the fiscal crisis in the 1970s, gave Paterson copies of all of his State of the State addresses on DVD.

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Judith Ann Abrams, producer of Broadway's Spring Awakening, was in town for Hillary Clinton's benefit at the home of Doug Johnson. While there, she was interviewed by East Hampton author Mary Ellen Winston for So You Wanna Be in Pictures, which will be published next year.

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Hamptonite Paul McCartney and girlfriend Nancy Shevell are reportedly driving cross-country along Route 66 in an '89 Ford Bronco. Rumor has it that once the road trip's over, they may embark on a new journey together - by getting married.

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In other wedding news, Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo decided to hold off on theirs, which was supposed to take place last Friday. The couple had picked 8/8/08 for luck, and planned to have a very private ceremony on the Caribbean island of Mustique, with a bigger celebration at The Plaza to follow in October. No word on the reason for the cancellation, but the split was supposedly amicable.

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A benefit at Steven Klein's Bridgehampton farm last weekend raised more than $200,000 for the Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue Organization. Gwyneth Paltrow addressed a crowd that included Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Andrew Saffir, Nicole Miller, Sale Johnson, Russell Simmons, Rosanna Scotto, Rocco DiSpirito and Marcy Warren.

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Peggy Siegel held an exclusive screening of the new Woody Allen movie, Maria Cristina Barcelona, in Southampton last weekend. Calvin Klein and other movie-goers enjoyed the film, and dinner at Savanna's afterwards.

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East Hampton's Jerry Della Femina was recently interviewed by his son, Michael, for the just-launched Web channel, DellaFeminaMedia.TV at Michael's Retronym Gallery on Sullivan Street.

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Seen out and about across the South Fork lately were Mayor Bloomberg at Mirko's in Water Mill; Rachel Feinstein, John Currin, James Frey and Cynthia Rowley at Sen in Sag Harbor; Rocco DiSpirito at MUSE in Water Mill; Nathan Lane at Indian Wells Tavern; Keith Hernandez and Rusty Staub at Almoncello in East Hampton; and Lou Reed, Calvin Klein, David Geffen, Sandy Gallin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tommy Mottola, L.A. Reid and Ed Burns at Nick & Toni's in East Hampton.

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