Joan Jedell in Soigne K Design

   Not only does September mark the end of yet another fantastic summer-it also marks the 15th anniversary of Hampton Sheet magazine. When I started The Sheet, the world was a different place. This thing called the “World Wide Web” was quickly creeping into conversations at cocktail parties. We were seeing the end of a fairytale era with Princess Di and Prince Charles finalizing their divorce. Yet at the same time, we had hope of a new Camelot when John F. Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette. It was also the period when we first heard Alan Greenspan talk of “irrational exuberance,” and when breaking the 6000 mark on the Dow Jones was a big deal.
   Before Hampton Sheet, I had never published a magazine. I was a painter my whole life, and also had a very successful career as an agent for commercial photographers in the advertising business. As a hobby, I had a column in a local Hamptons paper. I figured that since I was already attending many of the parties, I might as well cover them. Frustrated with the way my photos were laid out in the paper, I decided to start my own publication. It began with only four pages, and it has now grown to the tony boutique publication that it is today. My goal was to make Hampton Sheet not just a magazine, but also an art form that chronicled New York society in a unique way.
   From day one, I have painted all of the covers-from Lady Gaga earlier this year to Lady Liberty shortly after 9/11. What better way to begin this anniversary year than with a cover featuring a montage of some of my favorite portraits? I have had several favorites over the years. For example:
   Tom Cruise-He was being honored at the Moving Image gala when he spotted me and commented on my velvet Armani cape with fuzzy white fox balls all over it. So I asked him if he wanted to touch my fuzzy balls. A great icebreaker if ever there was one!
    Regis Philbin-Such a kind and genuine soul. He calls me “The Jedell” and always tells me that The Jedell takes the best photos of him and his wife, Joy. He must mean it, because he recently aired a large print of the photo I took of him with Joy and Larry David on Live With Regis and Kelly.
     Alec Baldwin-Some call him the future mayor of NYC. I call him a down-to-earth guy from Long Island who doesn’t let his stardom get to his head... that much! He recently lost weight, and looks 10 years younger. When I asked him for his weight-loss tip, he said, “I gave up sugar ... no ice cream anymore ...”
    The Donald-Every time he sees me, Trump tells everyone that I’m a great “one-shot” woman. When they ask what he means, he replies, “She always gets a great photo of me in one shot-I don’t know how she does it.”
    Martha Stewart-A real pro. A few years ago, Martha gave me a surprise video tribute at Cipriani 42nd Street when I was honored at the United Cerebral Palsy luncheon, saying, “Joan, I thought I knew a lot of people, but you know everyone... And we always know what the best parties are when we see your white Mercedes parked in front.”
    And speaking of parties, I recently attended pharma billionaire Stewart Rahr’s (aka Stewie Rah Rah) AAA-list, second annual “Celebration of Life” bash at his multimillion-dollar waterfront estate in Wainscott, top-billed as the “Best of the Best” of the season’s soirees, featuring performances by Andrea Bocelli and Alicia Keys, spectacular catering by Lawrence Scott, and attended by Rahr’s close friends President Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, David Foster, Mark Wahlberg, David Koch, Michael Milken, among others.
    So how have things changed in the past decade and a half? Today, the web is part of our everyday lives. Earlier this year, we saw Princess Di’s and Prince Charles’s son William marry his new princess. And nowadays, it’s a big deal if the Dow Jones doesn’t drop more than 400 points in a day.... With all this talk of debt ceilings, S&P downgrades, and of yet another recession, I must say that I really miss the times of our irrational exuberance.... Now, even the goodie bags have slim pickins’. You won’t see Joan Rivers asking for an extra one for her driver anymore and Sylvia Miles probably doesn’t even want one! But, as one of my all-time favorites Liz Smith (another Hampton Sheet cover girl) just said, “Yes, we’re all nervous about the economy, but the lush life goes on.”
    And does it ever go on and on and on! This issue of The Sheet features, once again, the “Best of the Best” parties. Upcoming events, as usual, can be found in The Sheet’s “Hot Dates” calendar. Also read my Q&A with fashion designer Vicky Tiel (page 24). Finally, remember that in these challenging times, charities more than ever need your help. Check out our Guest Spot by Karen Alinauskas for tips on charitable giving (page 15).
  Stay tuned for the Manhattan edition of Hampton Sheet, coming soon.

Enjoy The Sheet!

Joan Jedell appears on national and local TV.
Her photographs are syndicated worldwide.