The Buzz: Hot Hamptons Happenings This Summer

A guide to the super events you don’t want to miss this summer.

JUNE 19 Hamptons Golf Classic XIII presented by The Glenlivet

Celebs, socials, and high-profile Wall Streeters head to the links to fund-raise for charities. The Classic will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hampton Hills Golf and Country Club in Westhampton. Past participants: Michael Strahan, Lorraine Bracco, and Tommy Hilfiger. For more information: hamptonsgolfclassic.info.com

JULY 8  Southampton Animal Shelter Unconditional Love Gala
This popular gala draws high-profile, passionate Hamptons animal lovers. This year’s honorees are philanthropists Jean Shafiroff and Sony Schotland. Proceeds support the shelter’s numerous lifesaving initiatives. Past attendees: Georgina Bloomberg and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. For more information:
southamptonanimalshelter.com/unconditional-love-gala/.

JULY 15  Parrish Art Museum MIDSummer Party

A must-attend event for both artists and socials, the annual Midsummer Party in Water Mill draws some of the East End’s biggest names. This year’s gala, honoring philanthropist Agnes Gund and artist Clifford Ross, will include a preview of the Parrish Platform exhibition Clifford Ross: Light | Waves. (With Platform, the Parrish asks artists to consider the entire museum as a site for works that encourage new ways to experience art.) Past guests at the Summer Party: Eric Fischl, Emily Mortimer, Chuck Close, and Debbie Bancroft. For more information: parrishart.org/midsummerparty2017.

JULY 29  Chefs & Champagne®

Chefs & Champagne® is the James Beard Foundation’s annual summer tasting party, featuring lots of bubbly and menu offerings from over 40 top chefs, many from JBF-award-winning restaurants. The gala, to be held at the Wölffer estate in Sagaponack, raises funds for the foundation’s philanthropic works. This year’s honoree is multiple-JBF-award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and philanthropist Marcus Samuelsson. Participating chefs include Philippe Corbet, from the new Lulu Kitchen & Bar, JBF-award winner Alex Guarnaschelli and Michael Jenkins from Butter New York, and Daniel Skurnick, pastry chef at Le Coucou, New York City. Past attendees: Food-world elite like Martha Stewart and Katie Lee. For more information: jamesbeard.org

JULY 29 Super Saturday to benefit OCRFA 

This  mega-shopping event to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance draws the biggest names on the East End and top designers who donate their wares for the sale. Super Saturday celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, with Kelly Ripa, Donna Karan, Molly Simms, Rachel Zoe, and Gabby Karan de Felice hosting at the Nova’s Ark Project in Water Mill, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Past attendees: Christy Turlington and Star Jones. For more information: ocrfa.org/events/super-saturday/.

JULY 29 The 24th Annual Watermill Center Summer Benefit & Auction

The summer benefit in Water Mill is always a highlight of the Hamptons social season, with over 1,000 guests invited to take part in founder and artistic director Robert Wilson’s latest performance extravaganza. These works are renowned for synthesizing such artistic discliplines as art, music, theater, design, architecture, and fashion. “Fly into the Sun” is the name of this year’s gala, which will honor the late Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, and Isabelle Huppert. For the first time, the event will be presented by French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. Past attendees: Calvin Klein, Bianca Jagger, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Tory Burch, and Chuck Close. For more information: watermillcenter.org.

AUGUST 5  The 2017 Hamptons Paddle & Party for Pink

The Hamptons Paddle & Party for Pink is an annual two-part event benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). In the morning, there’s the Paddle Board Race (a WPA-sanctioned points race) at Havens Beach in Sag Harbor. The Sunset Party in the evening, to be held at Fairview on Mecox Bay, Bridgehampton, will be hosted by BCRF Board Member Maria Baum and her husband, Larry. Past attendees: Gwyneth Paltrow, Monique Lhuillier, Gabrielle Reece, Katie Lee, Tracy Anderson, and Rachel Zoe. For more information: hamptonspaddleforpink.org.

AUGUST 5  Southampton Hospital’s 59th Annual Summer Party

Le tout Southampton turns out for this annual gala. This year’s party, produced by Lawrence Scott Events,  will be held under tents at Wickapogue Road and Old Town Road in Southampton. It will benefit the Jenny and John Paulson Emergency Department, which is the sole provider of emergency care on the South Fork. The evening’s chairs include Terrence McNally, Tom Kirdahy, Marigay McKee, and Bill Ford with honorary chair Georgina Bloomberg. Past attendees: John Paulson, Howard Lorber, Jonathan and Somers Farkas, and Alina Cho. For more information: Contact the Southampton Hospital Foundation, 631-726-8700, ext. 3; klucas@southamptonhospital.org.

AUGUST 5 Walk of Hope + 5K Run to Defeat Depression

Lace up your sneakers for the second annual Walk of Hope + 5K Run to Defeat Depression, benefiting the Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF). Author Jay McInerney will serve as grand marshal and HDRF’s founder Audrey Gruss will lead participants of runners, walkers, and supporters on a route around Lake Agawam in Southampton Village. For more information: 212-676-3205.

AUGUST 5  Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation 13th Annual a Hamptons Happening 

The event, to be held in Bridgehampton, will mark the 41st anniversary of the founding of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation by noted oncologist and cancer researcher Samuel Waxman, M.D. This year’s benefit will honor Glenn Myles, chairman and CEO of First Wall Street Capital. A Hamptons Happening will feature over 30 of the top chefs and restaurants in New York City and the Hamptons. Past attendees/participants: designer Betsey Johnson, Todd English, and Sandra Lee. For more information: waxmancancer.org/events/hamptons-happening.

AUGUST 11 The  Guild  Hall  Summer  Gala: Celebrating Richard Avedon

The gala in East Hampton will include an exclusive preview of the Avedon exhibition, followed by dinner, dancing, and a live fine art auction. Past attendees: Ricky and Ralph Lauren, Alec and Hilaria Baldwin, Chuck Close, and Vera Wang. For more information: guildhall.org/benefit-events/summer-gala/.

AUGUST 12  Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center’s GET WILD Summer Gala 

This benefit, to be held in Southampton, supports the center whose work is focused on benefiting wildlife on the East End. Past attendees: Beth Ostrosky Stern (and this year’s co-chair), Howard Lorber, and Jill Rappaport. For more information: wildliferescuecenter.org.

AUGUST 19  The East Hampton Artists & Writers Charity Softball Game

A softball game that’s a can’t-miss event for many in the Hamptons dates back to 1948 and has had such iconic artists as Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, and Jackson Pollock among the original players at bat. Writers including literary machers like Saul Bellow, Irwin Shaw, Willie Morris, James Jones, and Tom Wolfe, along with such celebrated journalists as Ben Bradlee and Carl Bernstein and actors Lauren Bacall and Alec Baldwin have also stepped up to the plate to support a range of charities. This year’s beneficiaries include The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center, Phoenix House, The Retreat, and East End Hospice. The game will be held at Herrick Park in East Hampton. For more information: awgame.org.

AUGUST 27 Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Annual Gala and Tennis Tournament

One of the last major events of the Hamptons summer season, the annual gala, in support of the 13th Annual Charles Evans PCF Pro-Am Tennis Tournament, will include an evening of dinner and cocktails. Past attendees: Billy Idol (performing), David and Julia Koch, Francine LeFrak, and Michael and Lori Milken. The event will be held at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. For more information: pcf.org