South O’ the Highway (and the North too)

This weekend, Yolande Merchant will be bringing the works of some of the Hamptons’ favorite artists to a “mini-gallery” at the Hamptons Home and Garden Show, including drawings by Dan’s Papers Publisher and Editor-in Chief, Dan Rattiner, watercolors by Polly Kraft and William Rayner, abstract wall hangings by Sidney Butchkes, Dallas Ernst’s Wall Plates, Christophe Von Hohenberg photographs and abstractions by Frank Wimberley.

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Actor Rick Colitti of Southampton recently shot a television commercial with James Gandolfini of HBO’s “The Sopranos” for American Airlines, to be shown in the United Kingdom and on the Internet. The commercial comes at a pivotal point for Colitti, as he is currently celebrating his 50th year in show business.

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Hamptons residents Richard Gere, Alec Baldwin, Lauren Bacall, Roger Rosenblatt, Dorothy B. Cullman, Joel Grey, and Phyllis Newman are among the theater and film luminaries joining in a salute to legendary acting teacher and director Wynn Handman and the enduring theatrical institution he co-founded, The American Place Theatre. The double header celebration, Wynn, Place & Show, will take place on May 21 at The Hudson Theatre, marking the legendary teacher’s 85th birthday and the 45th anniversary of his theatre, and will feature cocktails, dinner, a specially created performance piece by Jonathan Reynolds, directed by Ed Sherin, followed by dancing to Peter Duchin & His Orchestra with a special performance by Barbara Cook. The event’s title, Wynn, Place& Show, is borrowed from the title of Jeremy Gerard’s soon to be published book about Handman and The American Place Theatre (Smith & Kraus, 2007). Also participating in the gala tribute are former students Denzel Washington, James Caan, Michael Douglas, Joanne Washington, Morgan Freeman, Allison Janney and Richard Schiff.

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Last week, Rudy Giuliani of Southampton and his ex-wife, Donna Hanover, celebrated their daughter Caroline’s acceptance to Harvard University.

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Hamptons resident E.L. Doctorow introduced Norman Mailer at the Paris Review benefit at New York City’s Puck Building last week, where Mailer and Benjamin Perry were honored for their accomplishments in fiction writing.

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Amagansett resident Sarah Jessica Parker is debuting her new fashion line this month and will be gracing the cover of Glamour magazine next month.

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Last week was a busy one for Amagansett resident Alec Baldwin. The actor went to see Prelude to a Kiss on Broadway, was interviewed on “The View” and also requested that a video clip of his phone message to his daughter posted on funnyordie.com be removed.

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Last week, former Presidents George Bush, Sr. and Bill Clinton posed in the replicated Oval Office in Clinton’s Little Rock presidential library, much to the delight of visitors that day.

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Hope Taft, wife of ex-Ohio Governor Bob Taft, presented Hamptons philanthropist Adele C. Smithers with the President’s Call to Service Award and a letter from the President at Tavern on The Green in New York City last week. The Award is “in recognition and appreciation of your commitment to strengthening our Nation and for making a difference through volunteer service.” Mrs. Taft is a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

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Lawyer Michael J. Griffith of Amagansett has recently gained a new client, socialite Ildiko Varga, the Varga Crystal CEO. She is expected to be called as a witness in a trial-involving Veronica Atkins, widow of diet guru Dr. Robert Atkins, and her new husband, Alexis Mersentes.-The suit concerns-the three trustees of the Atkins estate.

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Montauk resident Debra Markowitz has just published a new novel, Naked in the Rain, about an older woman and a younger man who kindle a relationship in Montauk. Debra Markowitz is the Nassau County Film Commissioner as well as the Vice President of the Long Island Film/TV Foundation.

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DJ Vic Latino’s White House nightclub in Hampton Bays, formerly known as CPI, has received a-sleek makeover this past winter. Everything is painted bright white with sky blue lighting.-They have a great line up this season with some of the industry’s top-A-List performers and DJs.-

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The Irvington Institute for Immunological Research hosted its 25th annual Through The Kitchen Dinner at the Four Seasons Restaurant on April 29th. NBC anchor Perri Peltz and her husband, Vice President of Goldman Sachs International Eric Ruttenberg, hosted the evening alongside Liz and Jeff Peek. Guests included Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Diana Taylor, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and his wife, Veronica, Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education, Joel Klein and Nicole Seligman. For the fifth year, DeJuan Stroud worked his magic creating themed tables for each of the Departments of New York City.

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Ann Barish, Sharon Handler and Ambassador John Loeb, Jr., Denise Wohl, Barbara Bancroft, Dana Buchman, Charlotte Moss, Fernanda Niven, and Hilary Ross were out en force at the Fountain House’s fourth annual luncheon to honor Mike Wallace at the Pierre Hotel on Monday. Fountain House provides housing, employment, wellness and educational services to people with major mental illness and helps some 1,300 people each year.

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Lauren and Jim Watkins, Laura and Harry Slatkin, Billy and Ophelia Rudin, and Pat and Jimmy Cayne hosted the New York Center for Autism’s A Day to Believe: Autism Awareness Day at Shea honoring the New York Mets on Sunday, April 22. Mets fans Bill O’ Reilly, Joan Jett and Amagansett resident Matthew Broderick also came to lend their support.

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On Sunday, two Springs School student athletes enrolled in Mrs. Conlon’s Life Skills class and two students enrolled in Mrs. Lamonda’s Primary Self Contained class will compete in the Special Olympic Games at William Floyd High School. Students will compete in the 50-meter dash, the 100-meter dash, a softball distance toss and a Frisbee distance throw.

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The Youth Services Division and the Family Resource Center of the Town of East Hampton’s Department of Human Services is looking for after-school mentors. Participants will be trained by the Mentoring Partnership of Long Island and receive support from the social work staff of the East Hampton Department of Human Services. For more information or to volunteer, call 329-7375 or 324-4947.

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Dr. Gerald Curatola, who has a dental practice in East Hampton, has been honored with a membership to the Sir Harold Acton Society, established by NYU in 1995, which commemorates extraordinary men whose legacies are shining examples of visionary leadership and worldwide impact.

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On Tuesday, May 8, United Cerebral Palsy of New York City (UCP/NYC) will hold their 6th annual Women Who Care Luncheon at Cipriani on 42nd Street in New York City. Joan Jedell, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Hampton Sheet Magazine, will be honored for encouraging more effective giving to help charitable organizations around the world. Ivana Trump will be introducing Joan at the event. Gayle King and Maureen Lippe will also be honored. Honorary chair Cathleen Black and co-chairs Patricia Ganzi and Loreen Arbus will host the event. Donna Hanover will serve as Master of Ceremonies, with special presentations by Tom Arnold, Geri Jewell, Ellen Levine, Lili Taylor, Twyla Tharp and Suzanne Wright.