South O' the Highway (and the North too)

Hamptons artist Chuck Close will be honored at the Whitney Museum of American Art Gala and Studio Party in New York on October 22, where his large tapestries of contemporary artists will be on display. Melva Bucksbaum and Amy Phelan are co-chairs and a number of the East End's junior set, including Amanda Hearst, Lisa Anastos and Lauren Bush, have signed on to host the afterparty at the downstairs studio.

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Merrick's Lindsay Lohan skipped parties at the Star Room this summer and has instead been spending time at her third and most secluded rehabilitation center, the Cirque Lodge in Utah, where fellow famous youth Mary-Kate Olsen spent time in 2004. The repeat offender has recently been spotted by the paparazzi biking and hiking at the Lodge, rather than drinking and driving at Le Deux.

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Former President Bill Clinton and possible first First Husband took time out from campaigning to play a few rounds of golf last weekend at Bridgehampton's beautiful Atlantic Golf Club. No word on what he shot.

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Writer Joyce Carol Oates has been spending some time out East this summer, recently checking into the Southampton Inn during a mid-July jaunt in the Hamptons.

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Southampton's Cathy Moriarty, who was up for an Oscar in Raging Bull, will play a nurse in the one-act play based on Ray Negron's best-selling children's book The Boy of Steel on September 22 at Utopia's Paradise Theater in the Bronx, which Moriarty co-owns with her husband, Joseph Gentile. Underwriting the event, for the benefit of the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, is philanthropist Adele Smithers, president of the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation.

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Many of East Hampton housewares designer Jonathan Adler's home creations have been inspired by and made in Peru for the last ten years. In the wake of Peru's recent devastating earthquake, Adler is now donating 10% of all store and web proceeds from through August 31st to the Peruvian relief effort.

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Stars dined all around the Hamptons last weekend once again. Joy Behar, Kelly Ripa and Mark Conseulos ate at MUSE Restaurant & Aquatic Lounge last week, while Jon Bon Jovi and his family ate Cobb salads at East Hampton's Rowdy Hall, where Nathan Lane also picked up a salad to go. Meanwhile, Republican Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani grabbed a bite to eat at the cozy Driver's Seat restaurant in Southampton.

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East Hampton's Martha Stewart is reportedly planning to launch a magazine that would rival periodicals like Town & Country. Susan Lyne, CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia isn't discussing any details about the project but, when asked about it recently, Stewart gave a sly smile and didn't deny it.

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Long Island's own singing icon Mariah Carey, who once lived with Tommy Mottola in his Sag Harbor digs, is renting Tommy Hilfiger's Further Lane estate for the month of August. Carey reportedly paid Hilfiger's asking price of $350,000 to rent the oceanfront contemporary while Hilfiger spends some time in the Caribbean.

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East Hampton artist Karyn Mannix has been appointed as the Springs Improvement Society Chairperson of the Art Committee, replacing artist Abby Abrams' ten-year commitment.

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Over 400 guests crowded The Gallery Sag Harbor to see the works of artist Daniel Bottero and to meet the artist himself last week. Stylish Hamptonites, art collectors and media members have all been clamoring for the artist's work this summer, which is still on display in Sag Harbor.

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Last Saturday at the Tulla Booth Gallery in Sag Harbor, "Star Struck," an exhibition featuring celebrities, fashion, and photography, opened, featuring rare photos of everyone from Fidel Castro to Marilyn Monroe and everywhere from Japan to Jerusalem. The exhibition continues through September 12th.

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Hamptons art dealer Pamela Willoughby curated the Sneaker del Arte Show For Ellen's Run last weekend. Big name artists and celebrities alike made Stephen Marbury's kicks their canvas and collaged, painted, sculpted them to their unique liking. Willoughby is hoping they shoes will command top dollar at the upcoming auction at Ellen and Chuck Scarborough's Southampton estate.

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Hamptons PR Director Todd Schapiro has opened an office in Southampton on Main Street, which will now be representing clients such as Donald Trump's Trump on The Ocean, the American Red Cross, WBLI Radio, The Driver's Seat and the Vanderbilt Museum.

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The Hampton Theatre Company will hold its cocktail benefit, "Live Theater Lives," on Sunday, August 26th from 5-8 pm at the Southampton home of Ann Marie Carr. Members of the company will perform scenes from A.R. Gurney's play "The Dining Room" and Jim Ahrend will provide live music. The company's new season will be announced. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

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Southampton lawyer Michael J. Griffith was in Monaco in connection with the release of his client, Ted Maher, who served eight years in prison. In the scandalous case, Maher was convicted of murdering multi-billionaire Edmond Safra. Griffith has called upon authorities to investigate the verdict, as some think the trial was fixed.

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