By: Lieba Nesis

Does the Hamptons have more excitement up its sleeve or are the next two and a half weeks a lackadaisical snoozefest? Well get ready because some might argue the real fun is only beginning as next week the Prostate Cancer Gala and Ellen Hermanson Foundation dinner are both taking place Saturday night!  The Prostate Gala at the Parrish Museum is an evening of billionaires as mega-moguls pay a minimum of $5,000 per ticket for a night at the Southampton Parrish Museum with Michael Milken and his acolytes.  Just don’t try to land your plane at the East Hampton airport during this shindig because the lines are interminable.

Speaking of the uber wealthy let’s not forget Sunday September 3rd with the VIP Hampton Classic Horse show finale where billionaires Martha Stewart, Michael Bloomberg, Howard Lorber and John Paulson become front row spectators with top tier tables ranging from $10,000-$30,000.  Socialites are already purchasing custom hats and dresses for this annual extravaganza where the who’s who get their picture taken by the dozens of photographers as Brooke Shields, Matt Lauer and Kelly Ripa mingle about. I can still remember Sofia Vergara, and Jennifer Lopez hiding in plain sight amongst the throngs of Hamptonites.

This past week was equally busy as on Tuesday August 15th I attended the Samuel Waxman Foundation’s “Kids Cancel Cancer” event at the East Hampton Clubhouse.  Joining forces with the Israel Cancer Research Foundation (ICRF) Waxman and ICRF are funding the leading researchers in Israel and the United States in an effort to eradicate pediatric cancer. August 18-20th was packed with three competing “happenings” on Saturday night alone with the Hamptons glitterati out in full force.

Those who like to “get high with a little help from their friends” might have enjoyed Friday afternoon’s cannabis convention at the Main Prospect in Southampton.  Unsurprisingly, there were few bold face names, a heavy police presence and faulty microphones – being stoned undoubtedly decreases efficiency.

Saturday evening was all about culture and animals beginning with mogul Chris Burch who hosted a classical Young Scholars concert for the Lang Lang International Music Foundation at his multi-million dollar home in Watermill.  Super billionaire Len Blavatnik joined other moguls for a one hour respite from the hullabaloo of the summer. Saturday night the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) held its annual Bow Wow Meow gala where Governor Hochul, along with Nan Bush, Chuck Scarborough, and photographer Bruce Weber joined forces to help our voiceless furry friends.

The best way to garner attention in the Hamptons is having the right dog as enthusiastic animal aficionados abound on every corner. Equally extraordinary was the Southampton Arts Center’s 10th Annual Benefit honoring Real estate moguls Simone and David Levinson.  This might be one of the best buys of the summer as $1,000 a ticket gets you a lengthy cocktail hour beginning at 6 PM in the garden, a superlative branzino supper in the courtyard and a smashing afterparty which ended at 1:30 AM in the back room.  Guests such as Dr. Norman and Mia Rowe, John Paulson, Nicole and Allen Salmasi, Janna Bullock, Peter Thomas Roth, Peter Brant Jr., Candace Bushnell, María and Ken  Fishel, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Cameron Silver and Fern Mallis enjoyed the entertainment of Jessica Vosk and Ariana DeBose along with lively dancing that had nearly all attendees on their feet.

In the old days a late night post party trip to Bilboquet Sag Harbor would be on the agenda of most Hamptonites.  However, due to draconian fire code laws sweeping through the Hamptons this former hotspot is turning people away quicker than a Britney Spears marriage.  A Bilboquet reservation will no longer guarantee access as unfamiliar faces are systematically rejected  as entry after 10:00 PM is a near impossibility.

Nearly every late night Hamptons venue contains multiple police cars perusing the outskirts as cranky neighbors seek to shutter Hamptons nightlife. Unless heading to Montauk, finding a hangout after 2 AM is nonviable so I Ubered to Dream nightclub in Hampton Bays. A 20 minute ride and $20 entry fee didn’t put a damper on this Latino hotspot that had guests salsa-ing until 4 AM.  Here is another tip if a place says 24 hours or open 7 days a week -make the call- there are tons of outdated websites with misinformation.

The perfect weekend weather made me feel guilty about shopping in East Hampton on Sunday when the sultry beaches might have been a more prudent choice.  Newtown Lane has become the Rodeo Drive of the South Fork with Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Loewe, Isabel Marant, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Zimmermann, Ralph Lauren, and Manolo Blahnik inhabiting nearly every square inch of East Hampton’s four block Main Street.  Elie Tahari sold his corner plot to Louis Vuitton’s Bernard Arnault for $22 million a record $4,400 per square foot for retail.

I see very little money changing hands for purchases at these luxury meccas as rich eyeballs and the cache of East Hampton must be the attraction.  However, East Hampton’s Ice Cream shop A La Mode, which Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Eisner frequent, does have a lot of buyers with spectacular ice cream at the bargain basement price of $4.90 for a double scoop. How, I asked the server, can you afford these  rents when your cones are cheaper then Carvel -with her response being “everyone asks me that!”

A half a mile away some spiritual nourishment was being satiated as Rabbi Leibel Baumgarten welcomed nearly 200 guests to his East Hampton synagogue at 13 Woods Lane for delicious vegetarian food, a short magic show and a remarkable program.  Terri Levin Davgin thanked the Rabbi’s son Isaac, who has four children of his own, for recently donating a kidney to her.  The Baumgarten family, who saved her life, were basking in the glory of their heroic deed in one of those moments that made me proud to be Jewish.  Isaac said he was feeling great after the operation with zero side effects as he diligently tended to his young children’s needs while giving new meaning to the parable “every Jew is responsible for each other.”

True inspiration could be found at the Southampton Chabad Friday night dinner hosted by Rabbi Rafe and Chany Konikov.  Yosef Vogel from the Jewish Learning Institute addressed the hot topic of anti-Semitism and the necessity for educating the public on what the Jewish people represent in combating this burgeoning issue.