By: Lieba Nesis

If you weren’t one of the fortunate 350 invited to Michael Rubin’s July 4th white party such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Drake; there were still plenty alternate happenings during the mobbed Hamptons weekend. Beginning with Friday night July 5th when Jean and Martin Shafiroff held their annual kickoff cocktail party for the Southampton Hospital Foundation where music by Alex Donner entertained as the over one hundred person crowd enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, fraternization and picture-taking.

Jean spoke of the importance of the Stony Brook Hospital which became a Level 3 trauma center in May 2021 as guests such as Fern Mallis, Maria and Ken Fishel, and John Wambold lent support. With an admittance rate of 6,000 patients annually as well as 25,000 emergency departments visits each year this 125-bed edifice is a pivotal part of the Hamptons scenery. I have never seen the Hamptons as packed as long lines awaited Citarella shoppers and restaurant reservations at hotspots Bilboquet, and Tutto Il Giorno were near impossibilities. Southampton Publick House and 75 Main restaurant were overrun with college students looking to blow off some steam and escape their parent’s vast Hamptons mansions.

Saturday was more fun in the not so much sun as a deep mist engulfed the Hamptons as the Halsey House held its annual gala which this year honored Chuck Scarborough for his 50 years with NBC. With Jean Shafiroff and Doug Halsey as co-chairs the evening had a homey vibe as guests were encouraged to wear festive cocktail attire and a band played some favorites such as “I Will Survive” and “Billie Jean.” Food and drinks were plentiful as guests danced up a storm during the opening of the lively Hamptons season. The Halsey House has a rich history as a historic house converted into a museum which was built by Thomas Halsey Jr. in 1683, the son of pioneer Thomas Halsey Sr. Herb and flower gardens, an orchard, and 17th and 18th century furnishings along with a rare 16th century Breeches Bible are some of the artifacts ensconced in this treasure.

At 8 PM the party concluded and guests such as Jean Shafiroff and David Hochberg ran to the 20th annual “Hamptons Happening” Samuel Waxman Cancer Foundation gala at the home of Maria and Ken Fishel. Delicious samplings of food from dozen of premier restaurants including Taco Mahal, Lulu, Night Inn, Magnolia Bakery and Francois Payard made the $450 ticket price the bargain of the century. Esteemed honorees Arthur Backal, Chef Francois Payard, Cheri Kaufman, Stephen Kliegerman and Fern Mallis received awards to salute their efforts in fighting cancer. As DJ CherishTheLuv spun tunes the ebullient and festive crowd danced the night away until close to midnight, when Ken and Maria Fishel decided to call it a night.

The Fishels open their Bridgehampton estate to a half a dozen spectacular fetes in the summer including Polo on July 20th and 27th, The French Heritage Summer Soiree on July 19th, and a benefit for the Haiti Air Ambulance on August 17th. After being nearly partied out I headed to the palatial Bridgehampton home of FinTech mogul David Rosenberg for his annual July 4th bash. As hundreds of revelers were turned away by police Rosenberg outdid himself with a spectacular guest list that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Dorsey, Michael Rubin, Luka Sabbat, Brooks Nader, and Corey Gamble with ASAP Ferg performing. Rosenberg, one of the lowest key power players in the tech world can frequently be seen in Bridgehampton buying ice cream with his mother- his 24/7 companion.

His generosity in opening up his vast estate to hundreds with a lavish fireworks display, a delectable ice cream truck, nonstop drinks and the best entertainment around led this year to be the best ever as guests partied until after 3 AM. With nightlife expert Richie Akiva leading the musical repertoire a packed dance floor and a gaggle of supermodels was a certainty.

A more pensive Sunday ushered in 500 Hamptonites at a “Stand with Israel” rally at Herrick Park, East Hampton. US Attorney General Michael Mukasey spoke along with pro-Israel Muslim Dan Khan and Harvard anti-Semitism crusader Shabbos Kestenbaum. The 24-year-old Kestenbaum has emerged as a star in his ongoing battle to free Harvard of dangerous Jew hatred as he testifies before Congress urging them to withhold federal funds from antisemitic institutions.

Before leaving the venue I spoke with the heroic Yakir Wachstock who has delivered more than 57,000 shoes to IDF soldiers with over $1.5 million raised for his “Boots for Israel” charity. The Hamptons summer is gearing up to be one of the most meaningful yet as dozens of pro-Israel events are scheduled for the coming two months.