Hampton Habitués

Coming Back to America
I don’t know about you, but we cannot wait for the final unveiling of Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, which will finally be released in early December after being delayed for a year due to the pandemic. 

Originally based on the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and then made into a stage play and film more than 60 years ago, the ensemble remake stars Southampton’s Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, who makes her movie debut in it. Other familiar faces from the East End and beyond include Brian d’Arcy James, Rita Moreno, and Corey Stoll. 

The time is ripe for the remake of this iconic American musical, written by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim, especially considering the social justice undertones that were largely missed from the earlier versions. It’s also worth noting that this is the first musical of Spielberg’s career. 

Delayed Gratification
We’re also quite excited about the Sex and the City revival, streaming on HBO Max starting in December. The 10-episode limited series, And Just Like That, picks up the stories of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte (no Samantha in this one) as their 50-year-old selves. 

Heavy on the East End talent, the show stars Sarah Jessica Parker (Amagansett), Cynthia Nixon (formerly of Montauk) and Kristin Davis. This version also includes Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Chris Noth, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Willie Garson, and Evan Handler. Sex and the City was created by Darren Star (East Hampton) and based on the book by Candace Bushnell (Sag Harbor). Bushnell has even more to look forward to this year, as her one-woman show, Is There Still Sex in the City, opens at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York on December 7. 

Sexy Time
Amagansett’s Gwyneth Paltrow is at it again. Following up her Netflix series Goop Lab with Sex, Love & Goop, now streaming on Netflix, the series tackles sex and intimacy. Topics explored on the six-episode series include negative relationship patterns, female pleasure, aging, erotic wellness, and psychedelic psychotherapy.

Digging Deep
The riveting Netflix show Narcos: Mexico is back for a third and final season. Created by Sag Harbor’s Chris Brancato, Carlos Bernard and Doug Miro, the drug drama continues the story of the Guadalajara Cartel by digging deeper into its roots. Now streaming all 10 episodes, this installment stars José María Yazpik and Scoot McNairy.

Strike Up the Band
Congratulations are in order for Bridgehampton’s Roger Waters, who recently got married again. He and his new wife, Kamilah Chavis, were wed at the Pink Floyd musician’s Hamptons’ home in October. 

Big Bucks Benefit
We have got to give it up for Quogue’s Michael J. Fox, who has helped to raise a heap for Parkinson’s research. In October, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is the world’s largest not-for-profit funder of Parkinson’s research, held a benefit at Lincoln Center that celebrated the cumulative raising of $1.5 billion since its inception 20 years ago. Of that money, 88 cents of every dollar goes directly to research. 

Many East Enders are involved with the charity, including Board members Willie Geist and George Stephanopoulos, this year’s event co-chair Katie Couric, and attendees Richard Kind and Julianne Moore. Keep up the fantastic work!

Pack Your Knives and Go
Lastly, we’re super surprised that Bobby Flay of Water Mill has parted ways with the Food Network. With shows such as Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Iron Chef America and Brunch at Bobby’s, the culinary creator has spent nearly three decades with the network. The first TV chef to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we’re curious to see what he’ll be cooking up next.