Social, Cultural & Dining Hamptons

Lots of South Fork activity since last summer. The LPGA U.S. Open will be at Southampton’s Sebonack Golf Club from June 24 to 30. Hamptons Free Ride and Spot Ride merged and will offer free shuttle service from East Hampton and Southampton villages to Main Beach (EH) and Cooper’s Beach (SH). And Southampton Hospital is expanding to its big Wickapogue Road lot, so the August 3 summer party will move to a big tent at the Elk’s Lodge after the Art Southampton show closes.

BITES, CLUBS & SPAS
In Southampton, Delmonico’s has replaced Savanna’s and BLT Steak will take over Nobu’s space at the Capri Hotel. Classic Southampton favorites in full swing are Nammos, Barrister’s, Sant Ambroeus, Driver’s Seat, and 75 Main (named a best brunch spot in USA Today). In Sag Harbor, restaurateur Michael Glucksman and chef Eric Miller just opened local seafood/slow food Madison & Main in Paradise Cafe’s former spot, and Phao is being replaced by American bistro Cuddy. Fresh replaces Southfork Kitchen on the Sag Harbor/Bridgehampton Turnpike, and Pierre’s thrives as a Bridgehampton favorite. Tom Colicchio’s pricey Topping Rose House restaurant opened in the restored inn/spa of the same name (at the light at the Bridgehampton monument). Naturopathica runs the holistic spa there, featuring a wellness program with yoga and Pilates.

Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander is creating Société du Vin, a private wine club on Butter Lane, Bridgehampton, and asking a rumored $50,000 membership fee and $8,000 annual dues. Continuing east, Sagaponack’s Old Stove Pub and its great steaks are rejuvenated. East Hampton’s newby nightlife guru Jon Rapillo is pairing with restaurateur Tony Fortuna to create Sienna Restaurant by T-Bar in Beaumarchais’ former location, 44 Three Mile Harbor Rd., so look for creative American and Italian cuisine plus a hot after-dinner spot. Also new in East Hampton is Serafina on N. Main St. Amagansett’s Sotto Sopra is a good bet for contemporary Italian, and the Stephen Talkhouse continues as a cozy club with great performers (Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin, Dave Mason, Joan Osborne, Leon Russell).

PERFORMING ARTS
Some Big Names coming soon to Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center are Mario Cantone (May 26), Aaron Neville (June 1), Jay Mohr (June 9), Kathy Griffin (June 22), Tracy Morgan (July 5), and Liza Minnelli (July 6). Tickets and a full schedule are online at whbpac.org, or call (631) 288-1500. Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor, recently lost a founder and co-artistic director, the much-loved Sybil Christopher, but its summer season overflows with comedy: Lend Me a Tenor (May 28 to June 23), The Mystery of Irma Vep (July 2 to 28), and the frothy Sondheim musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (August 6 to Sept. 1). Bay Street’s Comedy Club is Monday nights, starting with Ralphie May (June 3), followed by Jim Breuer (June 10), Paul Reiser (July 15), David Brenner (July 22), Amy Schumer (Aug. 12), and Paula Poundstone (Aug. 19). Susan Lucci hosts the big Rock the Dock benefit July 20. All Bay Street shows and tickets are online at baystreet.org, or call the box office at (631) 725-9500.

East Hampton’s John Drew Theater at Guild Hall has a full season, opening with award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh’s comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan (May 22 to June 9). The Hamptons International Film Festival’s documentary series, hosted by Alec Baldwin when he’s in town, starts June 15 with Twenty Feet From Stardom. Broadway and film star René Auberjonois does a staged reading of new play Big Bad Wolfe! June 28 (about author Tom Wolfe). The Upright Citizens Brigade’s touring comedy troupe performs June 29, and Tony Award winner Audra McDonald sings July 6. Actress Blythe Danner heads the cast in three light Noel Coward one-act comedies, Tonight at 8:30 (July 17 to Aug. 4). Guild Hall artists’ members show is in the galleries now, and the exhibit Artists & Writers: They Played in the Game opens June 15. The full schedule and ticket information is at guildhall. org; the box office is (631) 324-4050.

Pianofest starts its Monday 5:30 p.m. concerts June 17 at Southampton Cultural Center, then moves June 24 to the Avram Theater at Stony Brook Southampton (plus June 19 and 26 at St. Luke’s, East Hampton, 6 p.m.). Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival begins July 24 (bcmf.org).

SPECIAL EVENTS
The new Parrish Art Museum on Montauk Highway, Water Mill, has received rave reviews for its Herzog & de Meuron design. The popular “Landscape Pleasures” weekend with Saturday morning garden symposium and Sunday tour of private gardens is June 8 and 9, and the elegant Midsummer Party is July 13 (parrishart.org). The Parrish’s former location, on Jobs Lane, Southampton, is now The Southampton Center, which has plans for summer programs (southamptoncenter.org). Canio’s Books, Sag Harbor, has Vanity Fair editor David Margolick speaking June 8 and bestselling spy novelist Alan Furst on July 6. BookHampton (Southampton, East Hampton, Mattituck) invites well-known authors to read from new work on weekends. Pet Philanthropy Circle holds its first Pet Heroes Awards honoring Jill Rappaport and others in Water Mill on June 29 (info@petphilanthropycircle.com).