It Happens in the Hamptons
Of course Queen Bey has real estate in the Hamptons. Beyonce Knowles and her husband FORBES list billionaire and mogul Jay Z have an estate in toney Georgica Pond. Even while on vacation she has dropped her new album, “Black is King” and answered the call to action. Her BeyGood Foundation has met initiatives with grants for small Black businesses, COVID 19 relief for people of color and a petition Justice for Breonna.
African Americans have a long history in the Hamptons. The barbershop was built in the 1940’s by the first African American to own a business in Southampton, Emanuel Seymore. The historic. building is destined to become The Southampton African American Museum.
“Apollo in the Hamptons” is one of the hottest ticket in the summer social calendar of the Gold Coast. The benefit raises millions for legendary Harlem nonprofit Apollo Theater nurturer of emerging talent and vital community programs. Apollo President and CEO Jonelle Proscope has the dream team of Apollo Board Chairman, Dick Parsons and Board members New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and musician Pharrel Williams. Apollo Board Vice chair Ron Perelman has generously underwritten the soiree at his estate Cabin Creek. for the last ten years. The excitement is building to behold the next event. The evening’s performances have featured Chaka Kahn, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting, Shaggy, Chris Martin and The Roots as the house band.
Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, Colson Whitehead has penned a novel, Sag Harbor. He shares a home there with his wife lit agent Julie Barer and their children. Legal eagle and The View cohost Sunny Hostin rents a Sag Harbor retreat for family which she shared on her daytime talk show. CNN anchor Don Lemon and his fiance Douglas Elliman realtor Tim Malone are a power couple out and about.
CBS This Morning cohost Gayle King finds time to take in the Hamptons. O, The Oprah Magazine Editor at Large, Gayle will even hop on the Hampton Jitney.
The late restauranteur B. Smith and her husband Dan Gasby attended the annual Rita Hayworth Gala cocktail kickoff at the Watermill home of Anne Hearst and Jay McInerney. She was honored by the Alzheimer’s Association at the fall gala for sharing her early onset Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis. A couple of years ago, top seeded tennis player and star of CBS’s Game On, Venus Williams sold her Watermill home with the only roof top tennis court. Last summer Venus and her sister the GOAT( Greatest of all Time) Serena Williams were feted at a Hamptons Magazine cover party in Bridgehampton.
Nothing brings out the movers and shakers like philanthropy. The United Negro College Fund summer benefit has honored billionaire and benefactor Robert F. Smith joined by event committee members Reggie Van Lee and The Honorable David Dinkins with reporter Shirleen Alcott as master of ceremonies. When Ariel Investments CEO and co-president Melody Hobson was honored at the 1st Annual Compound Foundation in East Hampton she bought along her husband producer/ director George Lucas. The charity started by Grammy Award winning singer Neyo benefits children in foster care. Whenever Evidence Dance Company holds a benefit performance in Watermill, former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault and his lovely wife Katherine are sure to attend. The Green Book made a festival stop at The Hamptons Film Festival before it cruised on to collect four Oscars. Semper fabulous writer and producer Susan Fales Hill often attends Guild Hall author events. Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center nurtures diverse artists in all mediums most notably Clementine Hunter with summer residencies. The Watermill Gala sponsored by Cartier is an avantgarde soiree.
Bragging rights for Gatsby grandiosity belongs to Sean Combs and The White Party. For ten years his 1,000 person guest list boasted the most powerful, influential and talented folks alive. Martha Stewart, Jennifer Lopez, Salman Rushdie, Mariah Carey, Howard Stern, Tommy Lee, Donna Karan, Kim Kardashian. and Jamie Foxx are just a few of the bold face names who attended in head to toe white. This year, Sean put those party skills to use for the nonprofit humanitarian aid organization, Direct Relief. Team Love x Direct Relief COVID-19 Fund raised over three million dollars with a virtual Team Love Dance -A-Thon.
Living your best life and support for the community, summer in the Hamptons is everything.
