The benefit season continues apace, with no fewer than four on the near horizon. "Midsummer Dream" at LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton will take its inspiration --surprise, surprise! -- from Shakespeare.
Hamptons Fly will provide the event's dreamlike atmosphere throughout the evening, with stilt walkers, musicians, dancers, a horseback rider, a merman in the pool, trapeze aerialists, and acrobats performing in the gardens.
Set for July 22, the event will begin at 6 with cocktails, followed by dinner under a tent on the Great Lawn at 8. An after-party, with cocktails, dessert, and dancing to D.J. Amber Valentine, will follow at 9:30.
This year's honorees are two noted figures with local ties: Mary Heilmann, an artist with a studio in Bridgehampton, and A.M. Homes, a writer with a house in East Hampton. Almond Zigmund will introduce Ms. Heilmann; Laurie Anderson will introduce Ms. Homes.
An art auction will include works by more than 30 artists, among them Ross Bleckner, Connie Fox, Judith Hudson, Mel Kendrick, Ugo Rondinone, Cindy Sherman, Kiki Smith, and Robert Wilson.
Tickets start at $1,250; $175 for the after-party only.
The Arts Center at Duck Creek
The Springs venue has devised a very new twist on fund-raising. For its DRAWaTHON, the center invited artists to sign up for two-hour life-drawing sessions, Thursday and Friday, with the proviso that one figure drawing done on site would be donated for the benefit.
The unframed drawings will be hung in the John Little Barn from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Signed -- on the back, for anonymity -- each work will be sold for $200. A small silent auction of framed figure drawings will be held as well, and guests can also bid on a work by Mercedes Matter donated by Mark Borghi, who has galleries in Bridgehampton and Sag Harbor. Live music and light bites will be on offer.
Tickets start at $150, and the event is limited to 150 guests. The sale will continue on Sunday.
The Women's Art Center of the Hamptons
The "WACH Celebrates Women in the Arts" summer party will be held at a private residence in Sag Harbor on Saturday evening from 6 to 9. A highlight will be an art auction including works by Betty Parsons, Romare Bearden, Andre Kertesz, Tamiko Kawata, Sue Lawty, Larry Rivers, Bert Stern, and Jack Youngerman.
The event will include an appearance by Cali Faulkner, a chef who worked for five years in Michelin-starred kitchens in New York, as well as in Paris. Canard Inc. will provide the food, and Royal Khaoz the reggae music for dancing.
Tickets start at $750.
Folly Tree Arboretum
The Folly Tree Arboretum in Springs will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a clam party on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. The evening will include live music by Microfibers, free tours of the property, "soldier fly larvae racing," auctions, raffles, and games, as well as baked clams by Anthony Petty, beer from Springs Brewery, brick oven pizza from Pizza Sin Nombre, and Tlacoyos (a Mexican street food) by Kristina Felix and House Masa.
The arboretum is at 741 Springs-Fireplace Road. Tickets are $100, $35 for those under 21.
