South O' the Highway (and the North too)

East End rental real estate is heating up ever since a listing for a standard Sagaponack home hit the $1 million mark for a mere Memorial Day to Labor Day summer stretch. The property, listed by Sotheby's, is a 12,00-square-foot traditional home on Parsonage Lane, sans any water frontage, and is also for sale at a cool $20 million. The home would not be the first million dollar rental - an oceanfront Gin Lane mansion was rented for $1 million last summer.

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Sag Harbor has set a new rental benchmark as well, with a home already being rented for nearly $400,000 for Memorial Day to Labor Day. The seven-bedroom pad comes with perks to boot, including two waterfront acres with a private beach, floating dock, professional croquet course, wine cellar/tasting room, screening room, sauna, steam room, hot tub and a gym. Plus a pool, of course.

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Happy anniversary to Hamptonites Doris and Dave Charney, whose love is going strong after 60 years of marriage. The happy couple will celebrate the milestone out East with their family.

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East Hampton resident and esteemed composer/conductor Victoria Bond will be giving a pre-concert talk for the New York Philharmonic on January 17 at 6:30 p.m. She will be discussing important orchestral pieces and sparking the minds of Philharmonic fans.

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Guild Hall has announced this year's inductees for their Academy of the Arts - comedic actor/icon Mel Brooks, fine artist David Salle, author Joe Pintauro, and a special award for leadership and philanthropic activities to Robert F.X. Sillerman. The awards will be presented at a dinner at the Rainbow Room in NYC on March 3.

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According to Yolanda Merchant, director of Southampton's Ferregut Tower Gallery, the gallery has opened a gallery annex in Beijing, China and is currently showing work in that location in one of that city's charming Artist's Factory locations.

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Award-wining children's musician and Long Island resident Patricia Shih was featured on ABC News yesterday for her commitment to helping children be more passionate about learning through her album "The Power of One."

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Joy Behar isn't escaping the island for the winter just yet. The witty talk show host lunched at Bridgehampton's Candy Kitchen last weekend with her husband.

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Jamie Tisch, ex-wife of philanthropist Steve Tisch, is now said to be dating money manager Todd Meister, ex-husband of Nicky Hilton (for a brief tabloid-crazy time). The two socialites are a match made in an investment bank.

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Philanthropy and glamour will be mingling like never before at the February 6 UNICEF benefit launch of the new Gucci flagship store in New York. Madonna is hosting the event, which will feature performances by Rihanna, Timbaland and Alicia Keys. Amagansett's Sarah Jessica Parker, an official UNICEF ambassador, is co-chairing the benefit with fellow Hamptonites Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting and Trudie Styler.

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