Hamptons.com Article http://www.hamptons.com/print.ihtml?id=2026&apid=4438... Close Window | Print Signs Of The Season Nicole B. Brewer archive article, added 10/10/2007 Though the weather belied it, signs of fall are everywhere on the East End and beyond! Harvest festivals, sidewalk sales, and pumpkin and apple picking abound in our villages and hamlets. No surer sign of fall are the many fabulous fetes that kicked off the season. Here’s a little sampling of the wonderful happenings we peeked in on around the area this week. Friday evening art lovers were given a special treat with the Preview Party for the Artists Alliance of East Hampton’s annual fall Studio Tour at East Hampton’s wonderful Walk Tall Gallery. Both events were a resounding success with an enthusiastic attendance of tour-goers and artists alike. Walk Tall Gallery owner Wendy Wachtel told us, "This show and the studio tour reinforce the area's reputation as an artistic wealth of talent." Packing the gallery were many of the artists on the tour and major figures on the East End art scene Gideon Stein, Wendy Wachtel, and June Rosner at the Artist Studio Tour Preview including Frank Sofo, Frances at Walk Tall Gallery. Photo by John Wegorzewski Alenikoff, Walter Us, Gordon Matheson, Ellen Dooley, Tom Steele, George Lombardi, Aldo Perotto, Phyllis Hammond, Gideon Stein, June Rosner, Heide Banks, Howard Lazar, Esperanza Leon, Dan Welden, Blanca Leon, Jifat Windmiller, Susan Rockford, Barbara Jarvis, Daniel Starr-Tambor, Lounah Starr, and Ted Asnis. Saturday, just across the passage, The Wallace Gallery presented Plein Air Peconic II, the recent 1 of 6 9/10/08 12:14 PM Hamptons.com Article http://www.hamptons.com/print.ihtml?id=2026&apid=4438... paintings and photographs of the artists working with the Peconic Land Trust to capture the natural beauty of the landscapes preserved by the Trust. Kudos to gallery owner Terry Wallace, who organized this first class display of some of our area’s finest talents. The show was beautifully curated and lit to perfection, allowing even the tiniest details to be seen. The Peconic Land Trusts’s Rich Byers, Kathy Kennedy, and Dawn Liubenov were thrilled with the turnout that spilled out to the sidewalk and packed Park Place Passage. A portion of the sales, as is traditional with the Plein Air artists, was earmarked for the Trust and sales were plentiful with several artists selling multiple pieces! Gallery regular Alec Baldwin was on hand and graciously accepted congratulations from friends on his recent Emmy Award for his role in “30 Rock”. Wandering through the gallery’s spacious rooms were Canio’s Books and Plein Air artist Gallery owner Terry Wallace with Alec Baldwin at Plein Air Peconic II. Photo by John Kathryn Szoka, Lindsay Kane Wegorzewski and Ed Schenk, Orlando and Jane Sacasa, Carrie Clark, Peter Strugatz, Eva Saleh, Amy Gerdnic in from LA to support her pals Ellen Dooley and Tom Steele, Delia Marshall, Andrew Wargo – taking a break from his music stand at Tweed’s, famed illustrator Don Duga capturing little moments he would later immortalize in watercolors, and of course the Plein Air artists Casey Chalem Anderson, Susan D’Alessio, Terry Elkins, Aubrey Grainger, Gail Kern, Scott Hewett, Michele Margit, Gordon Matheson, Joanne Rosko, Eileen Dawn Skretch, Tom Steele, Kathryn Szoka, and Ellen Watson. According to Wallace, “This is only the second time in Long Island art history that there’s been an organized group of outdoor painters – the first being Caroline Bell and the Peconic Bay Impressionists. In the tradition of William Merritt Chase and Caroline Bell, the Plein Air Peconic artists bring recognition and appreciation to these ordinary local subjects and views by painting them.” Southampton was busier than usual this weekend with sidewalk sales, The Upscale Barn Sale at the Southampton Historical Museum and three major gallery openings, landscapes at Ann Madonia, Gail Altomare’s “Vessels” at Bravura Art & Objects, and the Celebrity Birdhouse Auction Preview at Hampton Road Gallery to benefit South Fork Breast Coalition. 2 of 6 9/10/08 12:14 PM Hamptons.com Article http://www.hamptons.com/print.ihtml?id=2026&apid=4438... Hampton Road Gallery was ablaze in color with the whimsical fancy bird houses created by celebrities and many prominent local artists for this third annual event which takes place this weekend at the Southampton Cultural Center and will be hosted once again by Oscar winning actress Renee Zellweger. This year birdhouses – 88 in all - were created by folks such as Aretha Franklin, Brooke Shields, CBS News anchor Maurice DuBois, Donald Trump, Ann Curry, skater Peggy Fleming, Rudy Giuliani and his wife Judith, Betsey Johnson, golf pro Morgan Pressel, Cliff Robertson and a host of artists including John Lownie, David Salle, Dennis Oppenheim, Eric Ernst, Carolyn Beegan, Paton Miller, Tony Rosenthal, Dan Rizzie, Don Saco, and Daniel L. Malisky. On Sunday over 450 folks turned out for Wolffer Estates Annual Harvest Fest an activity packed fun filled afternoon for kids and adults alike. Picnic tables lined the vineyards for as far as the eye could see and were perfect for the al fresco buffet that was served on the veranda - roast turkey, pumpkin puree, harvest vegetables, and piles of brownies and other treats. The little ones competed in a pumpkin rolling contest while the adults went shoulder to shoulder in a wine barrel rolling race. There were pony rides and a hayride that traveled round and round the vineyard all afternoon. But the really fun part for everyone was the grape stomping. The Wolffer folks set up huge vats filled with their luscious grapes, handed out gym shorts, t-shirts and even a grape covered thong for those adults who didn’t want the grapy wine splatter all over them. The kids just rolled up their pants and jumped in giggling at the squishy feel. At one point there were over 50 kids stomping around the vats just like the old “I Love Lucy” episode! The Jim Turner Band, always a crowd pleaser, kept the dance floor hopping with everything from rockabilly to Motown. Wolffer’s Roman Roth and his wife Dushy, alongside Sue Colden, were the perfect hosts as always dressed in Tyrolean garb as were many of the staff and volunteers lending a real October Fest touch to the day long event. If you didn’t get there mark it on your calendar for next year. This is a not to be missed Fall Classic in the Hamptons. Skipping over to Sag Harbor we were just in time for the hottest ticket of the season, the Save Sag Harbor Benefit Gala at The Old Whaler’s Church which drew over 550 supporters of the campaign to limit inappropriate Christie Brinkley and Jim Henry at the Save Sag Harbor benefit. Photo by John development of the centuries old 3 of 6 9/10/08 12:14 PM Hamptons.com Article http://www.hamptons.com/print.ihtml?id=2026&apid=4438... village once the whaling capital Wegorzewski on the East End. Initial response was so strong that the event was moved from a private home to the historic church. Even then hundreds were turned away by the organizers who were most concerned as they should be of overcrowding the landmark property. Those lucky enough to have scored tickets early were treated to a literally the Best of the Best of Sag Harbor as countless restaurants, bars, and food purveyors had donated tons of tasty treats for the event. As well, the silent auction boasted gifts, artwork, and goodies from almost every artist and business on the East End. On hand were many of the driving forces behind Save Sag Harbor including Southampton Town Supervisor candidate Jim Henry, Christie Brinkley, April Gornik, Jill Rappaport, Eric Fischl, and Roy Scheider as well as scores of volunteers from high school kids to grannies, sporting tee shirts that read (tongue in cheek) Size Matters. Clearly all are united in the effort to preserve the quality of life in their tiny village. A highlight of the late afternoon event was a performance by singer/songwriter Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel. It was her first local appearance and it proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Congratulations to everyone involved with this cause which affects everyone on the East End. Back in Manhattan the social season is in full swing. This week at the elegant townhouse of Mary and Frank Skillern, the couple hosted an intimate salon evening with the marvelous song stylist Anna Bergman who performed selections from her latest recording, “Wherever Love Takes Me”. The beautiful Ms. Bergman will be featured in an upcoming public television special in which Alexa Ray Joel at the Save Sag Harbor benefit. Photo by Kurt Leggard she melds American and European sensibilities, in a wide variety of styles from pop to classical, and in four languages. After cocktails, guests trooped down to the Skillern’s private gem of a nightclub for a dazzling evening of cabaret classics. Among the theater and music elite on hand to applaud the songstress were Sherry Eaker, Mary Ellen Winston, Anna Wilding, Randie Levine Miller, Caroline Lieberman, and the utterly divine Tony award winning Karen Akers. 4 of 6 9/10/08 12:14 PM Hamptons.com Article http://www.hamptons.com/print.ihtml?id=2026&apid=4438... Ann and Bill Van Ness tossed their annual cocktail party to celebrate the honorees and committees of Career Transition for Dancers Jubilee Gala Dance Rocks at City Center on October 29th. The lovely 22nd Anniversary co-chair Patricia Kennedy arrived fittingly in rock star style in Mitzi Perdue’s custom designed Stealth Van that was so high one could stand up in the Persian carpeted interior, complete with luxe leather reclining seats, two flat screen TVs and a bar that could have served the 150 guests at the Van Ness soiree.