Party Pictures 7/23/03 - Hamptons, Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge, Elle Décor/DIFFA, Mark Epstein, Governor Howard Dean

Hamptons weekend ...

Pierce, Lauren, and Ashley Bush with mom (above, left) and Star Jones and Joy Behar (above, right) at match 2 of the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge.

A beautiful weekend in the Hamptons (and in New York too). They held Match 2 of the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge over at the Two Trees polo field in Bridgehampton, hosted by Blue Star Jets, Equinox Fitness Clubs and Greenbeads.

And who was there? Aretha Franklin anybody? And the soon to be ex-Mrs. Neil Bush, Sharon Bush with her daughters Ashley and Lauren (now signed with Elite Celebrities), who presented the winning trophies. Also designer Maggie Norris, Kelly Klein, Star Jones and Joy Behar (from The View) along with Christina Oxenberg, her sister Ashley, and her friend Kalee Sullivan, Cathy Moriarty-Gentile, Royce Pinkwater, Todd Rome, Emily and (yet another) Ashley Green of Greenbeads, Harvey Spevak, the beautiful model Lia, Bentley Meeker (whose work is often shown on these pages), decorators Stephen Miller Siegel, Lisa Jackson, Mark Epstein, Catherine Aaron, Kelly Posner, Richard Mishaan, Christine Schott and Christian McPherson.

All proceeds from the gate for the entire season are donated to the South Fork Breast Health Coalition.

At Mark Epstein's to meet Governor Dean

Royce Pinkwater and Mark Epstein

Rachel Lavine, Howard Dean, and Roberta Kaplan

Courtney Callahan and Mark Epstein

After the polo match, many of the guests went off to Mark Epstein’s in Watermill (recently featured in In Style magazine) to meet Governor Howard Dean of Vermont who is, if you didn’t know, is a Democratic candidate for President. Picnic-style hors d’oeuvres as well as lemonade, Perrier and champagne.

In the mix: the ubiquitous Royce Pinkwater, Jill and Bobby Zarin, Mitchell Gold, Rachel Lavine & Roberta Kaplan, Marnie McBryde, Courtney Callahan, David Scott and Stefano Antoniazzi, Linda Mansfield, as well as those all-important guests, the contributors and Gov. Dean’s esteemed guests.

It was a gorgeous early evening in Mr. Epstein’s impeccably landscaped back garden among the flaming torches and the pool with its rose-colored glow. The governor spoke of his views on the economy, gun control and the death penalty (considered conservative) as well as his (considered liberal) views on civil unions for gays and lesbians, the environment, national healthcare and national security. According to my spies, there were a “quite a few curious” Republicans who seemed convinced enough in their meeting the guv that they may just vote his way.

You can learn more about Gov. Dean’s daily schedule by visiting the website www.howarddean.org

Margaret Russell and Reed Krakoff

The indefatigables at the Epstein/Dean party moved on after that over to the Elle Décor/DIFFA party where Richard Mishaan created a summer theme inspired by the surf scene from “Charlie’s Angels.” They had everything there but the Pacific. His table was a red surfboard with a black strip down the middle and cutouts of the “Angels” on the table. Mr. Mishaan’s guests each received a bottle of sex wax (that’s what they called it) and among the recipients were artists Donald Baechler, the uber-celebrity photog Patrick McMullan, Leslie Klotz and a friend of hers named Barbara, Bill Smith and Michael Morelli.

And then what? Oh, there was more – after all this is the Hamptons, home of the original weekend rush. However. Some took their sex wax and went home and maybe a good night’s sleep.

It was a quiet weekend. In Manhattan at least.

Elle Décor/DIFFA Charlie’s Angels' themed summer party