Dan's Papers - September 5, 2008

Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel came together last Saturday, thanks to their daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, who dedicated a live performance to help Save Sag Harbor at a benefit at the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum. The Joels and Brinkleys are friendly and approachable faces around town, and according to Brinkley, Sag Harbor is her true home. "Well, as a matter of fact, I was out here when I discovered that I was pregnant with Alexa," she said. "I made the decision that once I started a family I was going to live out here, where we could enjoy the beautiful nature. This place is unique, this place is amazing and this place deserves to be saved."

Alexa looked at home onstage as she got the crowd moving right off the top of the sold-out show by performing the energetic, upbeat, country-soundin' single, "Feels Good To Me." Event organizer Samanthe Lobosco, Alexa's best friend, mouthed the words from the sidelines, while Alexa's younger sister Sailor and brother Jack helped kick off the show by announcing Alexa and the band.

Now, the fact is, when you're Alexa Ray Joel, and your mom is Christie Brinkley and your dad is Billy Joel, some people will inevitably ask, "Is there really talent behind the name?" The answer is yes, according to both her parents. "Alexa was born to sing!" Billy told me. "I think she probably inherited it because my whole family is musical. My brother is a conductor in Europe. My father's a pianist. My mother was a singer. Since she was a baby, this is what her calling was. This is what she always wanted to do." Meanwhile, Alexa's mom, Christie, worked all day painting umbrellas for guests just in case it rained. "It looked like it was going to pour tonight," she said. "So, we thought, what do we do? We bought 100 umbrellas and we painted on them, 'Save Sag Harbor - Alexa Ray Joel Concert.' And they are available for $20, and they look great!" Alexa may have the name and support from her famous parents, but she admits that when it comes to anyone questioning her talent, "I prefer to wow people! I prefer to back it up with actual talent. You know people are going to think what they are going to think and until they see a show, they're not going to know. They have to see it for themselves and then judge after they have seen it."

This past Sunday was the 33rd Annual Hampton FTI Classic Grand Prix event, where Hillary Dobbs gracefully jumped her way into winning the first place prize of $200,000. Many folks mark this as the end of the social season out East, including several VIPs, like the gorgeous bride-to-be Beth Ostrosky (who, contrary to rumors, is not officially Mrs. Stern yet). Also present were Bruce Springsteen, Ivana Trump, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, Rudy and Judy Giuliani, Robert Zimmerman, Dan Rattiner, Barry Gordin, Countess de Lesseps, Todd Shapiro, Norah Lawlor, Gail Bernstein, Kelly Klein, Richard Kubick, Christopher Robbins and Mayor Bloomberg, who all plan to enjoy the East End year-round. Bloomberg admitted, "After Labor Day the traffic is a lot less, and I think the weather is as nice as it could ever be. I love to come out here in September and October. It's a chance to play some golf and go to restaurants I normally couldn't get a table at."

For me? Well, my time to relax and enjoy the East End is just beginning! See you at the beach, Babette's or Sen Lounge!

Until next season, you only live once, so party on!

Entertainment & Feature Correspondent, Director, Writer and Executive Producer Gina Glickman can be seen on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends starring on News 12 Long Island's "What's Hot in the Hamptons." Log onto hamptons.com for more celebrity action with Gina, on her "Main Street" series. www.GINAGLICKMAN.COM