After returning from a massive heat attack in Dubai (One & Only Residence & Spa is the place to stay!), I thought I’d exit my cozy chaise on Emirates Air to a cooler New York. Little did I know, the temperature here would far exceed that of the Middle East. The only possible way to cool off was to either jump in a tank filled with ice cubes or fulfill my craving for a chilled bellini. I chose the latter, so I decided to take a break from my monotonous habit of eating breakfast at the Regency Hotel and venture over to the newly renovated Helmsley Park Lane on Central Park South. Great decision on my part, because the Park Room’s views are fantastic and the food (and bellinis) were equally superb.
That night I had dinner with the super fabulous Loren and JR Ridinger at my favorite restaurant, The Waverly Inn. My good friend, Chef John DeLucie, consistently delivers the best chicken pot pie and mac n’ cheese. I ran into Sex and the City creator Darren Star and Rachel Zoe (both of whom I worked with at New Line Cinema). Rachel was dining with her husband and power couple Brian Atwood (Bally’s creative director) and Nate Berkus (Oprah’s other BFF). As I got up to leave, I noticed that realtors (definition: one who is a cast member on a reality show) Heidi and Spencer had been sitting next to us. Not surprisingly, Spencer was in the “good seat” facing out while Heidi was frozen (and looking quite “refreshed”) staring at a wall (oh, and her boyfriend).
Instead of mourning the death of another NYC party I rushed home, stuffed my white linens in my monogrammed Goyard trunk, bolted to retrieve my car and headed out East.
The following night I was invited to Dr. Ruth’s 80th Birthday Celebration by my close friend and PR maven Catherine Saxton. As I entered The Museum of Jewish Heritage, I was almost knocked to the ground by a pungent odor similar to the one from my great-grandmother’s nursing home. My group (Saxton and Hampton Sheet’s Joan Jedell) decided to forgo a free geriatric dinner and headed to Il Cantori where we sat next to Bruce Springsteen and Ed Burns. After dinner, I planned on meeting my friend at a Calvin Klein party hosted by Eva Mendes, but three minutes before the party started all 300 guests received an e-mail saying that the organizers had to cancel it. Someone must have been fired after this incident … at least give us three hours notice!
Instead of mourning the death of another NYC party I rushed home, stuffed my white linens in my monogrammed Goyard trunk, bolted to retrieve my car and headed out East. I’m excited for fun-filled weekends of clambakes, clubs, restaurants, charity events, shopping and catching up with friends. This year, the competition amongst the clubs in the Hamptons is at an all-time high. The Tavern is now La Playa, Jet East is now Dune, Capri is still Pink Elephant, Resort is now half Kobe Beach Club and half Lily Pond, and Montauk now has The Surf Lodge. Dune has already seen the likes of Scary Spice, Stavros Niarchos, Katy Perry, Brandon Davis, Chris Heinz and Josh Duhamel. My friends over at Lily Pond have been entertaining Kim Kardashian and realtor Whitney Port (who took center stage and danced along to Estelle’s performance). After a few weeks in business, nightlife impresarios Jamie Mulholland and Jayma Cardoso have hit the mark with The Surf Lodge. Jason Lewis, Tyson Beckford and Molly Sims have trekked out to the eastern tip of Long Island to sample Top Chef’s Sam Talbot’s latest creation. Our appetite for something new has been satisfied. Being that it’s not technically in the “Hamptons” makes it that much cooler.
My recent diagnosis of insomnia has resulted in a prescription for a double dose of Ambien. Now I only wake up three times a night instead of five. Luckily, classes at Soul Cycle in Bridgehampton begin at 7 a.m. Sans biking tights, I head over on a weekly basis to be greeted by editors in Manolo biking shoes. After 45 minutes of high-octane cycling, I leave feeling blemished from all the scars that are normally covered by cover-up.
Last summer’s Social concert series that featured Prince, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews, James Taylor and Billy Joel was spectacular. My buddy Joe Meli created an outstanding program and now a year later I find myself craving another round of A-list performances. Maybe I’ll just buy a karaoke machine, lock my bedroom door and belt out “Dancing on the Ceiling.” I’m excited for the surprises that await us this summer!
Jaret Keller is the President of Key Group Worldwide. KGW creates original branded entertainment properties and marketing programs for major consumer brands. The Film & Television Division focuses on documentaries and unscripted television programming for the broadcast and cable networks. Keller has been in the entertainment industry for over fifteen years and most recently headed up New Line Cinema’s East Coast Television Department.
