TheHamptons.com

Interview with Pro Skateboarder Tony Hawk

staff@thehamptons.com — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:16:39 +0000

interviews :: tony hawk

…out on the east end…

Skateboarding legend, ambassador of the action-sports lifestyle, and philanthropic pioneer Tony Hawk will launch his inaugural Activision Presents Stand Up For Skateparks benefit in Bridgehampton. After five years in Beverly Hills, California this family-centric, carnival-style, star-studded benefit will expand to the East Coast for an intimate Vert skateboarding and BMX demonstration where Tony Hawk and other top skate and BMX pros will perform on Tony’s personal vert ramp. In addition to the exciting Vert demo, the day will host an interactive action-sports carnival featuring unique activities and giveaways, as well as food and drinks for children and adults alike.

All proceeds from the day will benefit the Tony Hawk Foundation, which seeks to foster lasting improvements in society with an emphasis on supporting and empowering youth. Through special events, grants, and technical assistance, the Foundation supports recreational programs with a focus on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities. The Foundation favors programs that clearly demonstrate that funds received will produce tangible, ongoing, positive results. With the help of their Stand Up For Skateparks benefit, The Tony Hawk Foundation has awarded over $2.5-million to 390 communities in 47 states.

Past attendees have included:
Arsenio Hall
Benicio Del Toro
Brett Ratner
Chris “Big Black” Boykin
Chuck Liddell
David Spade
Ed Helms
Holly Robinson Peete
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jon Favreau
Kathy Ireland
Lance Armstrong
Leeza Gibbons
Lisa Kudrow
Michael Rapaport
Pamela Anderson
Perry Ferrell
Rashad Evans
Russell Simmons
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Shaun White
Stefan Lessard
Trent Reznor

For tickets: 760.477.2479 or www.tonyhawkfoundation.org

We were fortunate to have an exclusive one on one interview beforehand with Tony:

Q. What passion led you to create The Tony Hawk Foundation and what is your favorite thing that the Foundation does?

A. Seeing the growing interest in skateboarding and the lack of action by city councils to provide facilities for their communities. I wanted to help the cities that are more in need of positive youth outlets (low-income areas). My favorite part is going to grand openings of the parks and seeing the genuinely thankful faces of the kids in the communities. Their uphill battle and hard work is justified.

Q. In what ways has the foundation empowered youth thus far as it’s a relatively new foundation?

A. It shows them the value of community action, perseverance and belief in themselves.

Q. Is it soley through skate parks or are you also sponsoring champion amateur skaters for the big leagues?

A. Our foundation is strictly non-profit and our focus is getting parks built.

Q. What sort of “support” do you offer aside from building the parks?

A. I go over every skatepark design and give suggestions to make it a better all-around facility. Our staff also gives out information to get projects further along before applying for a THF grant.

Q. Do you have goals for building skate parks nearby?

A. It all depends on the grant applications and what criteria they meet. We do want to do a specific “ask” during our Hamptons event to benefit a project in the NY area. We did the same thing last year at our SUFS event in Beverly HIlls for a skatepark in Compton. It is due to open next month.

Q. Since skateboarding lends itself to a lot of biting the curb does the foundation also support health care in tandem with building these parks in low income communities where so many people cannot afford health insurance?

A. We don’t have the funding or the staff to take on such a responsibility at this time.

Q The teenage kids were all hoping and even signed a petition to have one built here in Lola park next to the police station but nothing came from it. I think that if there was a proper skate park there would be less kids trying to build their own version of rails and less accidents! To this day there is still no park in Southampton village and the kids can’t get to Red Creek in Hamptons Bays or the one East Hampton or Montauk or Greenport on their own and it’s usually after school hours and weekends that they’re all out with their boards. The kids of course get kicked out of their favorite street haunts by the cops on a regular basis but that hasn’t put an end to their passion and they can usually work around the beat. Maybe you can spark a little light under the town while you¹re here to get one going here in Southampton : )

A. I’m sorry to hear about that. Have the community of Southampton rally the city council to get a park built and then apply for a THF grant.

Q. Was this originally your idea or Activision’s to hold an event in the Hamptons? How did you hear of “the hamptons”? I own TheHamptons.com so was curious how you navigated to our parts : )

A. Many of our benefactors of our Beverly Hills event suggested doing an East Coast fundraiser. A few of them also had homes in the Hamptons and gave us suggestions on how to go about it.

Q. Have you spent any or much time in the Hamptons?

A. I have never been there.

Q. If you haven’t been here before what are you anticipating doing when in town?

A. It’s a quick trip for me because I will be doing a show in Philly the day before and then NJ the day after, but I am excited for my little ones to see the Hamptons (if only for a day).

Q. How did the creation of the Tony Hawk game/ Activision change your life and possibly the sport of skate boarding?

A. It put my recognition factor (and that of skateboarding in general) on the level of mainstream sports. It also created a fan base of non-skaters that now appreciate the intricacies of professional skateboarding. But mostly, it allowed me to keep doing what I love for a living without worrying about the future so much.

Make sure to GET TO THIS HUGE SKATEBOARDING EVENT if you share the passion or know someone who does!! We want to thank the PR people at StategicGroup.tv for the opportunity to do this one on one interview with Tony Hawk while he is in the Hamptons for the Stand Up For Skateparks benefit in Bridgehampton this coming weekend: 3 pm to 7 pm at the Ross Lower School - 739 Butter Lane in Bridgehampton this Sunday. For more events check our events calendar.

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The Montauk Yachtini

staff@thehamptons.com — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:43:35 +0000

michael braverman :: on the hamptons

News From the Cocktail Front…

A few days ago, at about cocktail time all over the world, I sat down on the terrace of the Montauk Yacht Club for a kind of Alice in Wonderland experience with a cartoon sized martini glass. Had my friend Daniel not been across the table, already sipping through his straw, I might have decided that it was more prudent to dive over the bulkhead into Lake Montauk than to tackle a drink this size.

The mega-yachtini is Montauk’s trendy, over-the-top contribution to this summer’s crop of extravagant Hamptons baubles. And it is right up there in memorable contributions to the silly season on the East End, those glorious, golden days before we have to go back to serious business in September. A small step for a bartender, perhaps, but a great step for the sybaritic side of mankind.

Keith Battaglia, the manager of the Montauk Yacht Club, had wanted a signature cocktail. (My best definition of a signature cocktail is something that~Rs not easily co-opted by the competition and that gives you license to price it as high as a barrel of oil.) He very cleverly came up with the name, yachtini, and decided it should, like the yachts themselves, come in a mega size as well as regular.

Not having the vaguest idea of how to fill the oversized glass, Battaglia turned to the mixologist at Veuve Cliquot, who developed a cocktail with 10 Cane Rum, fresh lime and pineapple juice, orgeat syrup and Veuve Cliquot as the major ingredients.

It turns out that the mixologist is one smart and savvy girl. The drink is a good balance of fruit and alcohol, soft, tropical, and with its Champagne topping, sophisticated too. The only problem I found is that it is too easy to drink, much, much too easy. When Battaglia told me about a woman who drank two mega-yachtinis, I have to say I quite understood.

This is peak season at the Montauk Yacht Club and sitting there with a yachtini next to the sparkling water, looking at the splendid boats coming and going or just tied up at their slips, is a superb mid-summer treat. While most cocktails are priced at a reasonable $9 to $11, the yachtini is positioned as a budget buster at $25 for the regular size and $100 for the mega. Expensive, yes, but a fine way to remember the summer of 08.

Another local pleasure of the alcoholic kind is LiV vodka. Made in Baiting Hollow, near Riverhead, it is the first vodka to be distilled and bottled on Long Island. Because of a change in state laws, the producer, Long Island Spirits, is the only legal distillery to be established here since the nineteenth century. The vodka is distilled from potatoes using artisanal methods, and the result is terrific: smooth, clean and creamy. I tested it several ways; even straight up at both refrigerator temperature and room temperature it had clarity and a fine mouthfeel.

The name LiV, a play on Long Island vodka, rhymes with five, and it~Rs priced at $38 for 750 ml., and $44 for a full liter. Expect to see the tall, elegant bottle around at the parties, and watch for it as the official vodka of this year’s Hampton Classic Horse Show.

Michael Braverman is Editor at Large at Hamptons Magazine and Contributing Editor at Gotham Magazine. He has been the Wine Columnist at The East Hampton Star and he also writes for the polo newsletters, Open Season and Morning Line. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard TheHamptons.com as well! He can be reached at michael[at]thehamptons.com or via our comments page. Braverman is deeply involved in the East End community and serves on the boards of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Thomas Moran Trust, the Robert Wilson Watermill Center, and the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. He has lived most of his life in East Hampton, and was a partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan Real Estate. That business was sold to Sotheby’s International Realty ten years ago, after which he became a journalist.

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Your Celestial Star Horoscopes for August…thehamptons.com

staff@thehamptons.com — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:19:07 +0000

by Astro-Mystic Nicolas Aujula

Leo: 23rd July-22nd August
Ruled by the Sun
Gemstone: Ruby
Lucky Day: Sunday

Confident and bold, the Leo regal presence simply commands respect and admiration. Loud and dramatic they love to be centre of attention and enjoy the occasional drama, more than often making a mountain out of a molehill. With a weakness for the finer things in life, it is luxury all the way for them. Majestic and commanding, Leo’s love to take charge in the bedroom exploring the red hot pleasures of sex; aided with a powerful libido they renowned for being explosive lovers.

Celebrity Birthdays in August
7th Carlize Theron - 9th Melanie Griffith - 9th Whitney Houston - 10th Antonio Banderas - 14th Halle Berry - 16th Madonna - 17th Robert De Niro - 17th Sean Penn - 19th Matthew Perry - 25th Sean Connery - 25th Claudia Schiffer - 28th Shania Twain - 29th Michael Jackson - 30th Cameron Diaz,

Your Moon Phases for August 2008
New Moon on 1st and 30th August 08
Initiates a cycle of endings and beginnings. It is a good time to wind up any pending business or activities before the New Moon. A low energy period, which is a good time to rest, meditate and retreat from outer world activities

Waxing Moon from 2nd - 15th August 08
A period which promotes growth, which is a good time to begin new ventures and projects that involve increases. As the moon grows so will your efforts

Full Moon on 16th August 08
This period can shed light on situations and matters that may have been unclear before and is time to bring fruition to things. You may feel more sensitive and experience turbulent emotions so try to relax and keep away from aggressive influences

Waning Moon from 17th - 31th August 08
Period of decrease, an ideal time to start a diet, pay bills, refine projects, break bonds and eliminate unwanted habits

Aries: 20th March-19th April
Ruled by Mars
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday

Aries Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

Your Horoscope: A war of words seems to be an imminent influence this month especially within one’s intimate relations as past issues and buried resentments come out in full force. Rather than losing one’s rag use this opportunity to work through them rather than make the situation worse. It takes a lot of courage to admit to mistakes made.

Taurus: 20th April-20th May
Rules by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday

Taurus Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

Your Horoscope: New beginnings within the home and family are indicated making it the ideal time to spend quality time with loved ones and indulging in plenty of catching up. If things have been tense between certain individuals then burying the hatchet can really build a few bridges, life is too short to hold grudges.

Gemini: 21st May-20th June
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday

Gemini Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

Your Horoscope: Ever fancied yourself as a budding novelist or literary genius, then now can be the ideal time too really explore those creative ideas that can be streamed through the medium of writing. Current inspirations can lead one to really define a solid manuscript of work. While other’s may find joy through simply keeping a diary or journal.

Cancer: 21st June-22nd July
Ruled by the Moon
Gemstone: Pearl
Lucky Day: Monday

Cancer Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

Your Horoscope: Old situations that have been dragging on for a while can come to an abrupt end as one realises the importance off moving on and making a fresh start. This is really a time for tying up any loose ends and putting things to rest, it is only then that new opportunities can manifest in coming weeks.

Leo: 23rd July-22nd August
Ruled by the Sun
Gemstone: Ruby
Lucky Day: Sunday

Leo Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

Your Horoscope: Great confidence and enthusiasm keep one brimming with vitality that anything seems possible, but rather than waiting around for things to happen it’s more about putting one’s foot forward to create new opportunities. Avoid sitting around as boredom will turn into aggressive outbursts and risk taking overtones.

Virgo: 23rg August-22nd September
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday

Virgo Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

Your Horoscope: New lover’s and admirers who are a little different and eccentric are abound on the social scene creating the ideal setting to connect with a kindred spirit, weather you looking for fun or something more serious be sure to make the first step forward. While those attached can find plenty of temptation to play on their minds.

Libra: 23rd September-22nd October
Ruled by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday

Libra Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

Your Horoscope: The ego takes a back seat this month as one is more concerned about making a difference too the lives of other’s, from volunteering at a local hospice, undertaking charity work or even helping a friend in need, a sense of fulfilment can be found through service to other’s. Be off assistance to whom ever is in need.

Scorpio: 23rd October-21st November
Ruled by Mars and Pluto
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday

Scorpio Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

Your Horoscope: New beginnings in one’s career can take shape now in a variety of forms; some may initiate new projects or embrace extra responsibilities within the workplace while other’s may opt to push forward with a promotion or even apply for a better job. Any professional matters started now will flourish in coming months.

Sagittarius: 22nd November-21st December
Ruled by Jupiter
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday

Sagittarius Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

Your Horoscope: A time for really working through negative emotions such as jealousy, domineering attitudes and power struggles that have in the past really affected the way in which one relates to other’s. Weather it be friendships or love life, these can be transformed through the desire to change detrimental behaviour patterns.

Capricorn: 22nd December-19th January
Ruled by Saturn
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday

Capricorn Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

Your Horoscope: Men can prove to be influential figures in the work domain, being the very people who can open new doors, aid advancement or even offer sound career advice. Tap into the yang energy of being active and driven to really achieve those long held dreams and ideal. It’s all about taking a masculine attitude to life.

Aquarius: 20th January-18th February
Ruled by Saturn and Uranus
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday

Aquarius Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

Your Horoscope: Blessed with great intuition and a psychic knack to what’s going on in life, there is great potential to use one’s visulisation skills to gain a glimpse of the future for yourself or those around you. One can even find themselves reading up on Astrology and the Tarot, opening oneself to the metaphysical self.

Pisces: 19th Febuary-19th March
Ruled by Jupiter and Neptune
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday

Pisces Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

Your Horoscope: Bored with the usual routine this is a time to introduce a little newness between the sheets, from exploring kinky fantasies, trying new toys or even a visiting a fetish club, experiment is the word. Quite a sexual influence that brings forth plenty off passion and intimacy into the boudoir to really spice things up.

Nicolas Aujula, is a Celebrity Astrologer accredited with the ‘New Age Foundation’ and has been a featured Columnist for ‘Hollywood Weekly, Malibu Magazine, Wedding TV and New York Moves’. A born metaphysican he is also an accomplished Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regressionist and Metaphysical Healer. Visit Nicolas Aujula at www.inspired-artisan.com.

the hamptons

Real Estate in the Hamptons…an honest angle

staff@thehamptons.com — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:59:20 +0000

michael braverman :: on the hamptons

One thing about the Hamptons: we’ve been unsparing in our efforts to see that no billionaire goes without a home. The absorption rate here for the moneyed classes is prodigious, and while it may not rank among the country’s top ten social services, it nonetheless provides wholesome activities for both the idle and working rich between their Aspen and St. Barth’s seasons. We made sure there was a fine shingle roof over each of those well coiffed heads.

When Mae West said, “Too much of a good thing is wonderful,” it was loaded with sexual nuance. A couple of generations later, when there is no longer anything forbidden about sex, it seems a suitable expression for the way we live in the Hamptons. I’m worried however that this material meaning may be starting to fade.

I’ve had enough of the stock market blues and the mortgage crisis. I miss the old days (last summer, for example) when extravagance was part of life here. No questions asked, and no one felt guilty about it. Even though I don’t count myself among those free-spending sybarites, I’m feeling cranky about the changes.

The only ones happy are a few buyers and renters. The bargain hunters, after years of humiliation and meekly having to pay the price, are having their day. I see them strutting their stuff, hormones raging, egos proud and satisfied in beating down the price of a sale or rental this summer.

Admittedly, rentals, even those over-the-top trophy rentals, are small potatoes compared to the still stratospheric sales prices in the Hamptons, but this season is a victory for the high-end, highly competitive consumer, the kind who carries a lot more baggage than a weekend tote, and longs to bring a haughty Hamptons owner to heel.

Brokers kept inventing reasons for the slow season. Finally, everyone had to admit it was just a lousy rental season and a worse sales season. When word got out and the bottom fishers started circling, some owners caved and rented for half the asking price. Other owners held on to their pride and stuck to their pre-determined lowest price, sometimes renting and sometimes just savoring the satisfaction of saying no to the deeply discounted bids. Still others are nervously waiting for split-season and monthly rentals to bail them out.

We still see some spectacular sales. That one for $61 million on Gin Lane raised our spirits. But a lot of houses are waiting for buyers. And no matter what the brokers say publicly, what we hear in private is not encouraging.

The entire real estate community is nostalgic for the past few years. Those good old days when sales prices swirled up and up, and every broker and owner looked like a brilliant player. They were not actually particularly clever in the real estate market, but the seemingly unstoppable rising tide of sales carried them all. And the assumption in the rental market was that any house would rent at virtually any inflated price. A few owners are still trying to hang on to that world, but at this point they only need turbans on their heads to become the Norma Desmonds of the Hamptons. For most of us, 2008 was the year reality trumped.

Michael Braverman is Editor at Large at Hamptons Magazine and Contributing Editor at Gotham Magazine. He has been the Wine Columnist at The East Hampton Star and he also writes for the polo newsletters, Open Season and Morning Line. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard TheHamptons.com as well! He can be reached at michael[at]thehamptons.com or via our comments page. Braverman is deeply involved in the East End community and serves on the boards of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Thomas Moran Trust, the Robert Wilson Watermill Center, and the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. He has lived most of his life in East Hampton, and was a partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan Real Estate. That business was sold to Sotheby’s International Realty ten years ago, after which he became a journalist.

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What Matters Most

staff@thehamptons.com — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:52:14 +0000

karen amster-young :: The Beach Chair Chronicles

…weekly observations & discoveries from manhattan to the east end…

As I look around my home office and stare at my never-ending to-do list I can’t help thinking about a dear friend of mine who is going through a heart-wrenching time trying to successfully complete an adoption of a beautiful little Vietnamese girl who already considers my friend her mother.

I am staring at the Bloomies bag on my floor; it has been sitting here for a month, waiting for me to haul my ass to 60th Street to return some semi-horrific dresses that I bought in a state of panic before a recent family wedding in Pittsburgh (don’t get me started – that’s another column). Meanwhile, I can’t stop thinking about this great friend who has already been back and forth to Vietnam two or three times this year as I try to find the time to get to do my errands. Nothing would or could stop her on her quest to adopt this little girl from Vietnam. Her situation is on my mind; it is making me think. It is making me extraordinarily pensive and mad.

I came home last Sunday relaxed from a weekend in the Hamptons and was jarred back to reality as I tried to cross town to drop my daughter at summer camp. I watched, incredulously as traffic cops ignored double-parked trucks of questionable origin block side streets for countless minutes while they aggressively ticket SUV’s dropping little ones at summer programs and camps in front of various upper east and west side schools. What is wrong with our government and law enforcement on a local, state and national level? Sirens, traffic and clogged streets made my serene state from the weekend quickly fade.

It started for me with the recount in the now infamous 2000 Presidential election. Then of course life-altering 9/11 and too many unanswered questions; then the “bad” information that led to the Iraq War. I thought about our government again during the ridiculous primary season that just concluded a few weeks ago. Count a vote as half a vote? Give me a break. Ticket an innocuous SUV not blocking any traffic for a few moments to drop off a kid at school or camp while ignoring the huge, unmarked trucks that languish forever and block entire city streets day after day? The energy our government and law enforcement officials spend on the wrong things is beginning to leave me speechless and disillusioned. Which brings me back to my friend.

I can’t detail the specifics of her political and bureaucratic nightmare because she is about to embark on a legal battle to ensure this little girl eventually comes to the United States. I do not want to write anything that could even remotely be found by aggressive googling and would in any way, shape or form impact anything. But I will share with you that I have been flabbergasted by the situation: why is it so difficult for wonderful families to complete an adoption in Vietnam despite lip service to the contrary by President Bush and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung?

The beautiful little girl my friend is trying to bring home is 5 1/2 years-old. She has never known her true birth mother and her father voluntarily gave her up for adoption because he lives in unimaginable poverty and can’t care for her. This is not a little infant but a little girl who already knows my friend who has visited with her and talks to her weekly on the phone with a translator. This is a little girl who would likely languish in an orphanage (especially because of her age) and is now receiving new clothes and toys weekly via a care package that my friend sends religiously. Two brothers are also waiting for this little girl here in NYC. Her room is ready – filled with new furniture that likely costs more money than she would see in her entire lifetime should she have to stay in Vietnam. But all of these comforts are not what is making the light shine in this little girl’s eyes for the first time (I’ve seen her photos). It’s the love and connection she feels with my friend; a growing trust and love that she has never experienced in her lifetime.

And governmental bureaucracy is standing in the way.

I know my friend has the fight of her life ahead of her. She is determined. She and her husband have already written countless letters to politicians and others. They’ve researched and researched and researched. They’ve traveled. They’ve cried. They have gone to Washington D.C. to hire the best lawyers they could find. I know they won’t stop until they bring her home.

I am feeling my friend’s sadness over this situation. I am feeling frustrated. The big truck blocking the side streets is symbolic of the frustrating and unnecessary hurdle she faces in this fight for her little girl. The local authorities doing zilcho about daily unfair crap in NYC is representative of the wasted time and energy spent on blocking an adoption of a girl from Vietnam for the wrong reasons. Are my friends being used as a political example? Is her case being used as a data point to support policy change? Is our government full of shit sometimes? Yes, absolutely. And too often it’s the good guys that have to fight the fight.

I can’t wait to meet this little girl from Vietnam. She has no idea what is going on and how lucky she is to have a family like this fighting for her to come here to be a part of a loving home. But the look in her eyes is unmistakably one of a little girl already coming to life. I know she will be here one day. And I know one day my friend will tell her the remarkable story about her life and her eventual journey to America. I know when she is old enough to understand, Jodi will tell her how she fought with everything she had to be her mother. I just hope this little girl only experiences the best of what America has to offer. It’s a great country; the opportunities here for her far surpass any she would have living in an orphanage in Vietnam her whole life. Hopefully, once here, she won’t face any hurdles that are unfair, unjust and ridiculous. Unfortunately, she probably will. But it’s still better here. She’s going to love her new room. She already loves her new Mom.

Karen Amster-Young, formerly principal of Amster-Young Public Relations, Inc., is a freelance writer living in New York City. She lives with her husband, Ben and 6 year-old daughter, Alison. She continues to work as a public relations & marketing consultant and is currently working on a non-fiction book. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including magazines on the East End. She can be reached at karen[at]thehamptons.com

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Your Celestial Star Horoscopes for July…thehamptons.com

staff@thehamptons.com — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:03:36 +0000

by Astro-Mystic Nicolas Aujula

Cancer: June 22 - July 22
Like the crab that symbolises Cancer, they are apt to be hard on the surface yet if one sticks around to peel it away the complete opposite is to be found, a deeply caring and sensitive person who is emotional and protective to the very core. This is one person who will happily listen to one’s problems and offer a shoulder off support in any given situation. Just a little prone to the odd mood swing or two it is wise to be able to read their low points as this is a time to give them plenty off space and the appropriate breathing space. If one can juggle their innate sea of emotions and temperamental behaviour, Cancer will offer its heart and soul to whom they care about.

Celebrity Birthdays in July
Pamela Anderson (1st July) - Liv Tyler (1st July) - Tom Cruise (3rd July) - Lindsay Lohan (2nd July) - Jessica Simpson (10th July) - Will Ferrell (16th July) - David Hasselhoff (17th July) - Vin Diesel (18th July) - Jennifer Lopez (24th July) - Sandra Bullock (26th July) - Kate Beckinsale (26th July)

Your Moon Phases for July 2008

New Moon on 3rd July 08
Initiates a cycle of endings and beginnings. It is a good time to wind up any pending business or activities before the New Moon. A low energy period, which is a good time to rest, meditate and retreat from outer world activities.

Waxing Moon from 4th - 17th July 08
A period which promotes growth, which is a good time to begin new ventures and projects that involve increases. As the moon grows so will your efforts.

Full Moon on 18th July 08
This period can shed light on situations and matters that may have been unclear before and is time to bring fruition to things. You may feel more sensitive and experience turbulent emotions so try to relax and keep away from aggressive influences.

Waning Moon from 19th - 30th July 08
Period of decrease, an ideal time to start a diet, pay bills, refine projects, break bonds and eliminate unwanted habits.

Aries: 20th March-19th April
Ruled by Mars
Gemstone: Red Cora
Lucky Day: Tuesday

Aries Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

July Horoscope: Changes in the home are present now and it’s time to lay down the foundations for the future. Gains and material accomplishments can be delayed and inhibited so its time to plan and build rather than see results. A new direction in life can be found.

Taurus: 20th April-20th May
Rules by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday

Taurus Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

July Horoscope: It’s a favourable time to further one’s knowledge in subject matters that can help to improve career opportunities. One can also feel consumed by dealing with trivial and unimportant matters where the mind is prone to a little strain. Health wise, the nervous system is more vulnerable now.

Gemini: 21st May-20th June
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday

Gemini Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

July Horoscope: There can be financial pressures concerning debts so it’s time to take financial responsibility. One can spend a lot of energy in making and trying to save money, it’s not a favourable time for gambling, get rich quick schemes or high-risk investments

Cancer: 21st June-22nd July
Ruled by the Moon
Gemstone: Pearl
Lucky Day: Monday

Cancer Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

July Horoscope: One has a chance to figure out not just who they are but who they want to be. A change in self-image is highly favoured as this improves confidence and push one forward. Daily routines can need altering especially if they get one down. Leave plenty of time for socialising and fun

Leo: 23rd July-22nd August
Ruled by the Sun
Gemstone: Ruby
Lucky Day: Sunday

Leo Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

July Horoscope: It’s time to cut any losses, tie up loose ends and have a big clear out. All unfinished projects should be completed and it’s best not to concentrate or start new ventures. This influence helps one to examine their accomplishments and failures, a time for letting go of attachments.

Virgo: 23rg August-22nd September
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday

Virgo Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

July Horoscope: It’s time to get one’s priorities clear, ambitions and long term plans should be thought of in depth and eliminate any aspects of life, that don’t support one’s ideals and dreams. Friendships, which are not working out, might take a back seat for a while.

Libra: 23rd September-22nd October
Ruled by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday

Libra Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

July Horoscope: There can be criticism towards inaction, mistakes and bad choices from the past. Any previous problems that have occurred with bosses or in one’s career can flare up now causing delays and obstacles. There can be an increase in one’s professional responsibilities.

Scorpio: 23rd October-21st November
Ruled by Mars and Pluto
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday

Scorpio Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

July Horoscope: Undertaking further training in one’s career can increase prospects as what one does now will have a strong influence on one’s standing and position in the long run. It’s time to fine-tune skills and be open to new information and experiences.

Sagittarius: 22nd November-21st December
Ruled by Jupiter
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday

Sagittarius Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

July Horoscope: Issues concerning relationships and intimacy tend to flare up now, providing an ample opportunity too resolve any recent emotional rifts. Avoid borrowing any money or taking financial risks, as these can lead one too a downward spiral.

Capricorn: 22nd December-19th January
Ruled by Saturn
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday

Capricorn Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

July Horoscope: If a relationship isn’t bound by commitment then one decides to either deepen it or end it. It’s a good time to overcome any issues where one thinks they don’t deserve love or are not worthy of it; take a real look at feelings of self-worth and personal value.

Aquarius: 20th January-18th February
Ruled by Saturn and Uranus
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday

Aquarius Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

July Horoscope: There can be difficulties with fellow workers and superiors, which can prove to be a challenging aspect. It’s a good time to change jobs especially if a present one is unfulfilling. A fitness program and changes in diet can greatly benefit one’s body.

Pisces: 19th Febuary-19th March
Ruled by Jupiter and Neptune
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday

Pisces Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

July Horoscope: One can discover dormant talents and abilities where divulging deep into creative resources provides plenty of stimulation. People can make heavy demands and one is prone to feeling burdened by responsibilities. Make sure to leave plenty off time to pursue hobbies and interests

Nicolas Aujula is an AMANF accredited Astrologer with the New Age Foundation who specialises in Natal, Relationship and Electional Astrology. A born metaphysican he is also a Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regressionist and Metaphysical Healer. Visit Nicolas Aujula at www.inspired-artisan.com

the hamptons

Hampton Designer Showhouse Review

staff@thehamptons.com — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:59:21 +0000

michael braverman :: on the hamptons

The point of it all is tasteful excess. Showhouses are not meant to be too well mannered or conventionally elegant. We don’t really buy showhouse tickets to be bored with restrained good taste and we don’t go for practical tips on decorating. Nobody actually lives that way. We want to be treated to a bit of fantasy, something magnetizing and seductive, exorbitant in its budget and extravagant in its results.

Give us a head-rush kind of house in a drop-dead setting in the Hamptons, where indulgence is as much a part of life as westbound traffic on Sunday nights, and you’ve got a perfect storm of decorative profligacy. That’s why we can’t wait each year for the opening of the Hampton Designer Showhouse, a benefit for Southampton Hospital.

Anticipating the gala opening in July, we just attended a cocktail party at antique dealer Bermingham & Co., where the names of the participating designers were announced. The guests were exceedingly well behaved. We did not notice a single glass deposited on the rare and precious tabletops, but then again most of the people drinking from those glasses were in the decorating world and know how to treat a big-ticket antique.

This is the eighth annual showhouse, and the venue is an enormous new spec house in Sagaponack. In a real estate market, even a slow one, where average spec house sizes range from stupendous to colossal, that’s to be expected, and for the showcase purposes it’s just right. And you can count on every inch of the place decked out to dazzle.

The showhouse opens with a gala preview party on July 19th, and runs until August 31st, which is Grand Prix day at the Hampton Classic. We can all get some rest after Labor Day, which comes early this year.

A ll the designers will be working hard to gain recognition (and business), to make us aware of who they are, to entertain us, and most importantly to raise money for Southampton Hospital. If you are a designoholic and interested in the names and details, read on and give them a little applause:

Mrs. Alessandro di Montezemolo and Mrs. Mildred Brinn are the honorary co-chairs of the showhouse. Mario Buatta is honorary gala chair. Showhouse veteran Gary Crain is honorary design chair and James Alan Smith is decorative arts chair. Marketing and management are handled by Tony Manning as usual.

Interior designers:
Bob Bakes of Bakes and Company
Christopher Maya of Christopher Maya, Inc.
Douglas Graento of Douglas Graneto Design
Penelope Irwin of Irwinteriors
Jennifer Flanders of Jennifer Flanders, Inc.
Kate Singer of Kate Singer Home
Kevin Hart of Kevin Hart Design, Inc.
Lilly Pulitzer
Katherine Newman of Lona Design
Jennifer Mabley and Austin Handler of Mabley Handler Interior Design
Nancy Boszhardt of Nancy Boszhardt, Inc
Susan Calabria of Noli Design
Regina Kraft of Regina Kraft Interiors
Robert Stilin of Robert Stilin, LLC
Gail Shields Miller of Shields &Company Interiors
Sherrill Canet of Sherrill Canet Interiors, Ltd
Anne Tarasoff and Gail Tarasoff Tarasoff Interiors

Decorative Artists:
The Alpha Workshops
Dianne Warner
Laurance Rassin
Moises Esquenazi & Associates
Monica Rich Kosann

Landscape Designers:
Florentine Craftsmen
Whitmore Landscaping

Michael Braverman is Editor at Large at Hamptons Magazine and Contributing Editor at Gotham Magazine. He has been the Wine Columnist at The East Hampton Star and he also writes for the polo newsletters, Open Season and Morning Line. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard TheHamptons.com as well! He can be reached at michael[at]thehamptons.com or via our comments page. Braverman is deeply involved in the East End community and serves on the boards of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Thomas Moran Trust, the Robert Wilson Watermill Center, and the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. He has lived most of his life in East Hampton, and was a partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan Real Estate. That business was sold to Sotheby’s International Realty ten years ago, after which he became a journalist.

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Rules for Choosing and Drinking Rosé Wine

staff@thehamptons.com — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:05:18 +0000

michael braverman :: wine reviews

Here are my extremely strict rules for choosing and drinking rosé wine:

Color is part of the experience of drinking a rosé, so by all means choose a color that pleases-say, one that goes well with your bathing suit.

Delete from your memory everything you learned about rosé back in the twentiethcentury. Rosé wine has gone through a revolutionary change.

Don’t be overly discerning. The quality of rosé wines is now excellent for the most part.

Have some fun with it. Anyone who rattles on about depth or complexity in a rosé
ought to have his glass impounded until he lightens up.

Have a few bottles chilled at all times (but not to cryogenic levels) from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Drink your rosé young. The sassy, sprightly qualities fade after a year or two, and not even a shot of botox will revive its youth. 2007 is the vintage you want for the summer of 08.

Here are my current favorites, all reasonably priced, all available on the East End.

From Austria, Tegernseerhof Rosé Zweigelt 2007. Forget the syllables and look for the big “T” on the label. Taste the fresh watermelon and crushed strawberry on your palate. $13 per bottle.

Again from Austria, Anton Bauer Rosé 2007. Gorgeous pink color, floral and berry aroma and a refreshing dry taste. $13.

Just one more from Austria: Leo Hillinger Secco. Definitely in the prosecco style, and we all love our bubbles. Sparkling and elegant, yummy and festive. $17.

From France, Louis Jadot Beaujolais Rosé. You can always trust the Jadot label, and you already know your red Beaujolais. Now look for it in crisp pink. $14 per bottle.

From France, Tavel Rosé 2007, Chateau d”Aqueria. Vibrant salmon color, lush and intense, this is a beauty I keep coming back to. $19.

From Spain, Gran Feudo Rosado 2007. Red berries and floral, all the associations with summer. Zingy, clean and soft. $12.

From New Zealand, Wild Rock Vin Gris Rosé 2007. Pale pink with scents of red cherry, strawberry and spring flowers. Lively and lovely. $16.

Make your life, like your rosé, joyous, buoyant and exhilarating.
Michael Braverman is Editor at Large at Hamptons Magazine and Contributing Editor at Gotham Magazine. He has been the Wine Columnist at The East Hampton Star and he also writes for the polo newsletters, Open Season and Morning Line. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard TheHamptons.com as well! He can be reached at michael[at]thehamptons.com or via our comments page. Braverman is deeply involved in the East End community and serves on the boards of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Thomas Moran Trust, the Robert Wilson Watermill Center, and the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. He has lived most of his life in East Hampton, and was a partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan Real Estate. That business was sold to Sotheby’s International Realty ten years ago, after which he became a journalist.

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Summer Rosés & Pink Ports

staff@thehamptons.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:31:07 +0000

michael braverman :: on fine wines

Pink became the new white a couple of years ago with the resurgence of rosé. Now pink is trying to become the new red as well. This is the year it could become the spectacular red, white and blue star of summer drinks in the Hamptons.

Interestingly, Croft, the oldest and among the most traditional of the port houses-its roots go back to 1588-has come up with the most stylish and chic of warm weather concepts: pink port. And they are introducing it here just in time for the Hamptons summer season.

It is authentically port, made with the same grapes and according to the same extremely strict rules that govern the production of vintage and tawny and ruby ports. (It is technically a ruby port, but fermented the way a rosé wine would be, with a limited exposure to the grape skins.)

But forget the technical part and the pedigree. Focus on the flavor. Croft Pink is light and refreshing. It has enough sweetness to satisfy younger tastes but there is nothing confectionary about it. A kind of refined nectar quality will satisfy any generation, including those of us accustomed to more classical ports. The balanced fruit and acidity remind you that are drinking a real wine and not one of those concoctions like alcopops or wine coolers.

You might ask if Pink Port is an innocent fad. Are we going to look back and ask, “What were we doing?” My guess is that it is more than faddish. It is a serious attempt by a respected producer to give us an easily accessible but still genuine version of port for the summer months.

It’s young, it’s fun, it’s trendy, and it’s perfect for casual drinking in the Hamptons. Serve it chilled or even on the rocks for an aperitif-and invite me over. It will be priced around $20 when it hits the local wine stores.

- MB -

Michael Braverman is Editor at Large at Hamptons Magazine and Contributing Editor at Gotham Magazine. He has been the Wine Columnist at The East Hampton Star and he also writes for the polo newsletters, Open Season and Morning Line. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard TheHamptons.com as well! He can be reached at michael[at]thehamptons.com or via our comments page. Braverman is deeply involved in the East End community and serves on the boards of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Thomas Moran Trust, the Robert Wilson Watermill Center, and the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. He has lived most of his life in East Hampton, and was a partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan Real Estate. That business was sold to Sotheby’s International Realty ten years ago, after which he became a journalist.

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Your Celestial Stars for June…thehamptons.com!

staff@thehamptons.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:38:07 +0000

by Astro-Mystic Nicolas Aujula

Gemini: 21st May-20th June

Versatility and duality are most certainly Gemini middle names for they love to do two things at one time, weather that be talking on the phone while stirring a pan on the cooker and catching the news on TV all at the same time, they will carry it through with perfection. The life and soul of any party, Geminis are in their element in social situations, flitting around the room to see what everyone is up too. Yet their superficial nature and detached attitude can easily hurt the feelings of those around them, tactfulness thus is required to help keep good relations afloat. Witty and imaginative Geminis are certainly experimental when it comes to sex where variety and change is certainly the spice of life.

Celebrity Birthdays in June
Angelina Jolie (4th June) - Johnny Depp (9th June) - Natalie Portman (9th June) - Elizabeth Hurley (10th June) - Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (13th June) - Courteney Cox (15th June) - Paula Abdul (19th June) - Nicole Kidman (20th June)

Your Moon Phases for June 2008
New Moon on 3rd June 08
Initiates a cycle of endings and beginnings. It is a good time to wind up any pending business or activities before the New Moon. A low energy period, which is a good time to rest, meditate and retreat from outer world activities

Waxing Moon from 4th - 17th June 08
A period which promotes growth, which is a good time to begin new ventures and projects that involve increases. As the moon grows so will your efforts

Full Moon on 18th June 08
This period can shed light on situations and matters that may have been unclear before and is time to bring fruition to things. You may feel more sensitive and experience turbulent emotions so try to relax and keep away from aggressive influences

Waning Moon from 19th - 30th June 08
Period of decrease, an ideal time to start a diet, pay bills, refine projects, break bonds and eliminate unwanted habits

Aries: 20th March-19th April
Ruled by Mars
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday

Aries Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

June Horoscope: Relationships are blessed with plenty of ease and harmony while singletons find many more opportunities coming their way for a fulfilling relationship. Do be cautious when entering any sort of partnership, as one can be overly optimistic and not always see the true intentions of those around them.

Taurus: 20th April-20th May
Rules by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday

Taurus Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

June Horoscope: Satisfaction and expansion in your responsibilities at the workplace can be found now where it is a highly favourable period for looking for a new job or enhancing prospects in an existing job. It is a good time to start a new health regime

Gemini: 21st May-20th June
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday

Gemini Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

June Horoscope: Creativity is greatly enhanced allowing one to express them self in a variety of artistic means - a time to channel creative talents. Do keep optimism in check in seeing people for who they are as people can take advantage of one’s good nature and generosity.

Cancer: 21st June-22nd July
Ruled by the Moon
Gemstone: Pearl
Lucky Day: Monday

Cancer Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

June Horoscope: A favourable period for buying a house or improving an existing property where gains can be made through real estate. Also an excellent time to refurbish your home. It’s a very good period for solving rifts and problems involving the family, which can be more easily worked out.

Leo: 23rd July-22nd August
Ruled by the Sun
Gemstone: Ruby
Lucky Day: Sunday

Leo Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

June Horoscope: The mind is open and receptive to new knowledge, making further education or just general reading an attractive activity. It’s time to expand one’s mind. Relationships with siblings and neighbours can improve now, even if there hasn’t been any recent trouble.

Virgo: 23rg August-22nd September
Ruled by Mercury
Gemstone: Emerald
Lucky Day: Wednesday

Virgo Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

June Horoscope: Financial matters are favoured where one easily attracts financial gains and material resources. It’s a great time to ask for a pay rise or search for work that offers better financial rewards. It’s also highly favourable for undertaking investments, stocks and shares.

Libra: 23rd September-22nd October
Ruled by Venus
Gemstone: Diamond
Lucky Day: Friday

Libra Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

June Horoscope: There can be advancements at work making it a great time to seek promotion and potential rewards. It’s highly favourable to start new ventures, enterprises, make investments and any ventures involving high risks are likely to overcome any pitfalls.

Scorpio: 23rd
October-21st November
Ruled by Mars and Pluto
Gemstone: Red Coral
Lucky Day: Tuesday

Scorpio Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

June Horoscope: It is a favourable time to look at aspects of oneself that need changing through confronting the past as self improvement can do wonder’s for the mind and soul. There is also an innate understanding off one’s purpose and path in life, providing the scope for embracing new opportunities.

Sagittarius: 22nd November-21st December
Ruled by Jupiter
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday

Sagittarius Celebrity Match:
Aries - Ewan McGregor and Keira Knightly
Leo - Ben Affleck and Halle Berry
Sagittarius - Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson

June Horoscope: With a strong need to fulfil one’s dreams and ambitions, there is tremendous scope to make great accomplishments. The awareness to know what will make one happy leads too making the right decisions now. Circle of friends are likely to expand.

Capricorn: 22nd December-19th January
Ruled by Saturn
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday

Capricorn Celebrity Match:
Taurus - George Clooney and Penelope Cruz
Virgo - Hugh Grant and Cameron Diaz
Capricorn - Ricky Martin and Kate Moss

June Horoscope: It is a highly favourable time to seek career advancement and if one want to change jobs or even careers, then now is the best time to do it. New enterprises or careers do very well now and any accomplishments now made make a significant impression upon one’s life.

Aquarius: 20th January-18th February
Ruled by Saturn and Uranus
Gemstone: Blue Sapphire
Lucky Day: Saturday

Aquarius Celebrity Match:
Gemini - Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie
Libra - Matt Damon and Hilary Duff
Aquarius - Justin Timberlake and Jennifer Aniston

June Horoscope: Travel will certainly broaden one’s horizons and open the door too new people and ideas, be sure to either plan a trip if one cannot board a plane to exotic locations. One can also do well in business matters abroad or involving foreign people/cultures

Pisces: 19th Febuary-19th March
Ruled by Jupiter and Neptune
Gemstone: Yellow Sapphire
Lucky Day: Thursday

Pisces Celebrity Match:
Cancer - Will Ferrell and Jessica Simpson
Scorpio - Leonardo DiCaprio and Aishwarya Rai
Pisces - Jon Bon Jovi and Eva Longoria

June Horoscope: This influence highly favours matters of joint finances and partnerships where one can make money by working with others. Sexual experiences will be passionate and satisfying. Intuition is also strong which serves to guide all decision making.

Nicolas Aujula is an AMANF accredited Astrologer with the New Age Foundation who specialises in Natal, Relationship and Electional Astrology. A born metaphysican he is also a Hypnotherapist, Past Life Regressionist and Metaphysical Healer. Visit Nicolas Aujula at www.inspired-artisan.com

the hamptons

Hold that Tiger…And substitute a hedge fund manager instead.

staff@thehamptons.com — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:50:59 +0000

michael braverman :: on the hamptons

For weeks after The New York Post broke the story that Tiger Woods was buying a major oceanfront estate on Gin Lane in Southampton, I tried to get confirmation that it was accurate. People close to the sale, like Sotheby’s broker Beate Moore, had signed confidentiality agreements and could not comment on who was buying, and others who were a little less close denied that it was Woods. And they were correct: it was not Woods.

The most tantalizing aspect of the deal for me was not about the real estate, although a $61 million price tag is hardly something to yawn about, even in the Hamptons. (Woods is not just very rich; he is Master of the Universe rich. He earned $100 million from endorsements and winnings in 2006, and within a couple of years should become the first billionaire athlete.) No, what worried me was the question of where Woods would play golf in the Hamptons. And it really worrried me.

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club was my pick for Tiger. I could imagine him teeing off on that splendid opening hole, with its full-strength, unadulterated golf views. And sipping cosmopolitans in the Stanford White designed clubhouse after evading 150 bunkers. But would he be admitted as a member?

My guess was that Woods would probably be welcomed at Shinnecock Hills-but not now. He would have to wait his turn. Even legacy applicants, children of members, for example, who want to join in their own right, have to get on the list. You’d think even the toniest golf club would have a “move heaven and earth” list, the way important restaurants in the Hamptons do. But they have rules, and if a private club is not all about rules, it is threatened with chaos, or even worse, with subtle, creeping change.

No one leapfrogs over an earlier applicant. The pace may be glacial; in fact, our glaciers may be melting faster than club life evolves, but the sacred by-laws will never, ever, be breached as long as there is a living, breathing, admissions committee looking bravely back to the glorious past and carrying its traditions, untampered with, into the future.

Shinnecock Hills would be worth waiting for, even if it is a little humbling for the world’s most famous golfer to be put on a list behind some guys who have twenty point handicaps and wear pastel plaid pants. The club opened in 1892 as a 12-hole course, with a ladies 9-hole course added shortly after that. Today’s 260 acre, 18-hole, par 70 course was designed in 1931, and has hosted the U.S. Open in 1986, 1995, and 2004, when, striking terror into the hearts of local residents, traffic contingency plans included just about everything short of bomb shelters in our basements. The players in the 2004 Open, who are not known to be crybabies, described the tough course conditions as “unfair.” Just another relaxed week on the golf circuit.

Woods could always have played as a guest at Shinnecock Hills while waiting to be admitted. Or been a guest at most other clubs. The Maidstone Club, in East Hampton, would have been a bit far from his probable Southampton home, and not quite as challenging a course. Sebonack, National Golf Links or the Atlantic might have been suitable choices among the major courses here. Atlantic is where Bill Clinton played on a 1998 Hamptons visit while still president.

Woods has won the Masters, the U.S. Open and the PGA Championships more often than I’ve won a race with my dog. He’s rich, good-looking, world famous, has a gorgeous wife, and, most annoyingly, seems to be a genuine nice guy who is well liked. I cannot compete with him on a single item on that list, so it was insane for me to worry about where he’d have played golf.

Michael Braverman is Editor at Large at Hamptons Magazine and Contributing Editor at Gotham Magazine. He has been the Wine Columnist at The East Hampton Star and he also writes for the polo newsletters, Open Season and Morning Line. We are thrilled to welcome him aboard TheHamptons.com as well! He can be reached at michael[at]thehamptons.com or via our comments page. Braverman is deeply involved in the East End community and serves on the boards of the Hampton Classic Horse Show, the Thomas Moran Trust, the Robert Wilson Watermill Center, and the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center. He has lived most of his life in East Hampton, and was a partner in Braverman Newbold Brennan Real Estate. That business was sold to Sotheby’s International Realty ten years ago, after which he became a journalist.

(more…)