Hampton Habitués

Good News Gossip About our Notable Friends and Neighbors 

If Shakespeare were still alive, he’d surely agree that his opener to “A Tale of Two Cities” would also be most fitting for August in the Hamptons.

As we speed (not literally of course, thanks traffic!) toward summer’s end, we are reminded yet again that yes, this season has been both the best and worst of times, to paraphrase. Oh, where has all the time gone.

Bookworms Unite 

One of our very favorite events of the summer involves about a hundred writers, tons of books and a whole bunch of highbrow friends sweating buckets under a big tent. Yes, we’re talking about Authors Night, which will be held — full scale for the first time since 2019 — on Saturday, August 13, at Herrick Park in East Hampton. Can’t wait!

One of the most successful celebrations of books and authors in America, this year’s event will feature literary heavy hitters such as: Carl Bernstein, Kate Betts, Tina Brown, Robert Caro, Katie Couric, Nelson DeMille, Delia Ephron, Tovah Feldshuh, Jane Green, Alice Harris, Ali Wentworth, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Beatriz Williams, and so many more. Check out who else, and what other fun things are happening, at auhorsnight.org.

Funny Faces

Since we are obsessed with HBO’s Hacks, starring Jean Smart in the role of an absolute lifetime as legendary comedian Deborah Vance, we’re super happy to have learned that it’s getting a third season. Yay! Please, please, please tell us that we’re going to see more Susie Essman in it!

Not only is it great to see this down-to-earth Hamptons habitué onscreen again, it’s also fantastic to see her stretch and grow into the role of washed-up-director-done-good Elaine.

Fun fact: the co-lead of this fabulous series is Hannah Einbinder, who just happens to be the daughter of Saturday Night Live OG Laraine Newman. Not sure of her East End connection but it’s so cool it’s worth noting.

Then of course there’s one of our favorite mellow-in-real-life dudes — Fred Melamed — who so perfectly plays potty-mouth agent Tom Posorro on HBO’s Barry. Always a pleasure to see this guy on our screens.

This former Montauk resident has been hopping lately. He’s got so many projects coming up that we can barely keep track. Look for him next in The Mysterious Benedict Society and Diary of a Spy, among lots of other projects in various stages of production. Good for you Fred!

Who’s News

We’ve sure had our share of famous faces popping up all over the place out here again this summer. One of the most newsworthy in the past month or so has been actress Amber Heard, who must be renting a place somewhere out east. We’re not sure where, but we can attest that she’s been spotted, fresh off that terrible televised trail, bellying up at the seafood counter at Citarella in Southampton, dining at Calissa in Water Mill and even bargain shopping at T.J. Maxx in Bridgehampton.

There’s also Katie Holmes, who was spotted keeping it fairly low-key at a Montauk wedding. She was accompanied by her composer/musician boyfriend, Bobby Wooten III, who was the best man. An adjunct professor at NYU, this talented guy was also one of the original cast members of David Byrne’s American Utopia on Broadway. We’d like to see more.

Holmes most recently appeared in the 2022 film Alone Together, which she wrote, directed, produced, and starred in. Also starring Jim Sturgess, the romantic comedy is about a pair of strangers in bad relationships who meet when they are accidentally double-booked at an upstate New York AirBNB. The film also stars Derek Luke, and East End frequenters Zosia Mamet and Melissa Leo, whose father, Arnold, lives in East Hampton. Hmm. Gotta find that and screen it.

Catch you on Labor Day!