The almost last Hamptons gasp was lobbyist Liz Robbins’ annual 6-to-8:30 p.m. thing. Before inhaling her tray of pigs in the blanket, orders were: “Park on opposite side of street facing direction of traffic, or you’ll get a parking ticket.”
This was East Hampton with cars lined up to New Rochelle. Didn’t happen that Bill and Hillary, arriving 7 p.m., schlepped up the roadway like everyone else. What did happen was that, as they showed, the sea of VIPs parted. If she’s not in the White House, this crowd didn’t know it.
Judith Hope, former chair of New York state’s Democratic Committee: “There are 40,000 Democratic Clubs in America. Out here, there’s 40. Nobody’s sleeping. Everyone’s working to elect local officials.”
Bill, blue jacket, white pants, ploughed into the crowd. As Hillary and I spoke, she — little makeup, no fuss with hair — stood back and the crowd plowed into her.
Another last Hamptons gasp was Eleven Madison Park. Its NYC restaurant, closed for renovation, opened an East End pop-up and imported their entire staff. Just to nail a reservation, you have to fork over $100. Cancel your table, and you blow your C-note.
It was jammed. One eater said: “I’ll be back right after Labor Day and was told: “Lotsa luck. We close Labor Day. Forever. Not coming back. We’re reopening the city space.”
Last gaspers included L. DiCaprio, who rode what Dan Rattiner of “Dan’s Papers” calls “the subway.” It’s the jammed crowded East End roadway . . .
Joy Behar told whomever would listen that her book’s coming out, which everyone left of Michael Moore will love . . .
Authors having galas include Mrs. Alec Baldwin and the famous Tick Hall seller Dick Cavett. Everyone here, even those who don’t read, is hustling books.
Failed festival guy sells merch
I’ve recently reported on organizer Billy McFarland, who handled — mishandled — April’s Fyre Festival which promised celebs like Bella Hadid, Hailey Baldwin, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski. Things not all his fault went up the poop — lousy food, lousy shelters, lousy place.
I now report Billy’s not just silly willy-nilly.
Fans may now buy the festival’s $1 million worth of unused merchandise. Going live this week is WavebyFyre.com. Every penny to go into a legally watched fund.
I do not know this guy. I know he’s not required by law to do this. He says: “I feel badly. I let people down. I’m doing it to provide recovery for attendees, vendors, investors, and people of the Bahamas.”
Bits & pieces
SO, meanwhile, where’s everyone holidaying? Jessica Alba was splashing around the waters of Hawaii . . .
Judge Judy holed up in Jackson Hole . . .
Katy Perry spent the weekend scraping off the paint that contractors layered on her face for Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards . . .
And, although everyone dresses up to look casually down in the Shloomptons, shopkeeper Eileen Fisher staged a buy-a-thon in her shop and Alice + Olivia did ditto in their place.
Odds & ends
Twosome at a fish dinner recently? Trevor Noah and Jared Kushner. I thought you should know . . .
Another thing to know: China, respectful of ancient traditions, will stage a Victoria’s Secret show. In Shanghai. To air in November. Panties, bras and bikini lingerie on models like Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Behati Prinsloo, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, plus new faces. Showing newer parts.
At a West Side grocery: “Inflation’s inflating. The grand prize in next year’s lottery will be an all-expense-paid trip to your local supermarket.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.