Hamptonites anticipate the
beautiful Parrish Art
Museum's Midsummer Party
every year. For me, it is a
right of passage as my
birthday is on July 12th,
for many years I
have celebrated my birth
date with this extravaganza
under the large white peaked
tent on Jobs Lane. The
century old tree surrounded
by the tent in the main
dining area is always a
welcoming and familiar site,
like an old friend with arms
(branches) out stretched to
greet us.
Guests enjoyed press photos
and greetings in The Parrish
Art Museum surrounded by Rackstraw
Downes: Onsite
Paintings
1972-2008 before walking
down the long, tent enclosed
brick sidewalk to the main
tent.
The evenings Honoree's were Beth
Rudin DeWoody and Ross
Bleckner,
two individuals whose lives
exemplify an extraordinary
commitment to the arts.
Co-Chairs for the party were
Deborah Bancroft and Dorothy
Lichtenstein.
Just about
everyone showed up for this
sold-out party. Parrish's
annual gala is a social
gathering of the Hamptons'
most sophisticated art
collectors, artists,
socialites, entertainers,
philanthropists and business
leaders. Cocktails and
dinner are usually attended
by supporters and VIP's then
at 10pm, true to tradition,
after dinner, the elegant
tent turned into one big
dance floor with music by DJ
Tom Finn....the lower price
admission of $150 pp brought
in a whole new crowd of
partiers wanting to dance
the night away. Desserts and
drinks flowed as the crowd
greeted the morning at 1am.
This years
guest list included Alan and
Arlene Alda, Metropolitan
Museum Trustee Gayle Perkins
Atkins and attorney and
investment banker Charles N.
Atkins, art gallerist Mary
Boone, Whitney and James
Fairchild, James and
Charlene Nederlander, Lisa
de Kooning, Richard and
Cessna Johnson, Steve Tanger,
Sam Natapoff, Tatiana and
Campion Platt, Parrish
Trustees Ira and Gale
Drukier and countless
others.