Michelle Bonnie Cannon, Executive Director, Bridgehampton child Care & Recreational Center, Photography by Kurt, LLC
Stacey Abrams on the Importance of Voting
Abrams received a warm welcome. The audience was engaged from start to finish. People listened closely, applauded often and stayed for a lively Q&A that lasted well beyond the formal discussion.
Ken Miller & Stacey Abrams, Photography by Kurt, LLC
Abrams joined journalist and author Ken Miller for a conversation that covered some of the biggest issues facing the country today. They discussed democracy, voting rights, public education, artificial intelligence, DEI and the future of civic engagement.
Throughout the evening, Abrams encouraged the audience to look beyond political headlines and think about the systems that shape government and everyday life. She argued that many of today’s political battles did not begin with one administration or one individual, but are the result of decades of organized efforts to reshape public institutions and the role of government.
Audience at Guild Hall, Photography by Kurt, LLC
Voting was one of the evening’s biggest themes. Abrams said voting is about much more than casting a ballot. It affects healthcare, housing, education, jobs and civil rights.
“If voting didn’t matter,” she said, “people wouldn’t work so hard to stop you from doing it.”
Abrams also emphasized the importance of local and state government, encouraging people to remain engaged long after Election Day by supporting organizations, participating in their communities and holding elected officials accountable.https://hamptonsmouthpiece.com/has-the-awakening-begun/
The conversation also touched on public education. Abrams discussed the rollback of DEI initiatives, the importance of preserving history and the growing role of artificial intelligence. She said technology should help strengthen democracy, not divide it.
Despite the serious topics, Abrams’ wit and storytelling kept the audience engaged throughout the evening. Laughter mixed with thoughtful moments as attendees responded with frequent applause, creating an atmosphere that was both reflective and hopeful.
My Take
One thing I appreciate about events like this is that they bring people together to listen instead of shout. Some audience members agreed with Stacey Abrams, others likely did not. That is healthy. Good conversations do not require complete agreement. They require people willing to listen, ask questions and think. On July 28, Guild Hall became that place. In today’s political climate, that may be just as important as anything said from the stage.
What do Harlem and Sag Harbor have in common? At first glance, not much. One is known for its iconic brownstones, jazz clubs, and the legendary Apollo Theater. The other is celebrated for its waterfront charm, beautiful beaches, and small-town character. Take a closer look, however, and you’ll discover a rich history that has connected these two communities for generations. For decades, Black families from Harlem spent their summers in Sag Harbor, helping establish one of America’s oldest historic Black beachfront communities. That connection is still alive today, making Apollo in the Hamptons feel less like a fundraiser and more like a homecoming.
On Saturday, August 1, 2026, the Apollo Theater Foundation returns to EHP Resort & Marina in East Hampton for its premier summer fundraiser. The evening promises world-class entertainment, exceptional dining, and an opportunity to support one of the most important cultural institutions in American history.
More Than a Summer Celebration
Apollo in the Hamptons is much more than an elegant evening on the East End.
Every ticket purchased helps support the Apollo Theater Foundation’s year-round artistic programming, arts education, emerging artist development, and community engagement. Those programs continue the Apollo’s mission of creating opportunities for future generations of performers while preserving the theater’s remarkable legacy.
The event also supports the Apollo’s historic restoration, ensuring that one of America’s most celebrated stages continues inspiring audiences for decades to come.
Harlem’s Sound Comes to the Hamptons
This year’s entertainment lineup celebrates both legendary artists and unforgettable live performances.
Guests will enjoy performances from the iconic R&B trio Brownstone, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Estelle, and DJ Aktive. The evening concludes with the return of DJ Cassidy’s legendary Pass the Mic, an experience that has become one of the most talked-about live performances anywhere in the world.
Pass the Mic is never just another concert. It is an interactive celebration that brings together generations of artists in one unforgettable performance. Every appearance creates moments audiences remember long after the music ends.
Waterfront views, exceptional cuisine, dancing, and Harlem’s unmistakable energy promise another memorable evening.
Preserving More Than a Theater
The Apollo Theater is much more than a building on 125th Street.
It represents dreams.
It represents opportunity.
It represents Black excellence.
The Apollo introduced the world to artists including Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, and countless others who forever changed American music and culture.
Preserving the Apollo means protecting those stories while creating space for future artists to write their own.
A Weekend Celebrating Black Culture
Apollo in the Hamptons is part of On Our Toes in the Hamptons: A Weekend of Cultural Elevation, at Guild Hall is a collaborative initiative that brings together organizations whose work spans music, theater, dance, visual arts, and community engagement. As part of the weekend’s celebration of Black artistic excellence, theBridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center will host two free community master classes on Saturday, August 1. The Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) will lead a community dance class, while internationally acclaimed choreographer Ronald K. Brown and his renowned Evidence, A Dance Company, will offer a free dance workshop. Together, these programs provide a unique opportunity for local residents, aspiring performers, and dance enthusiasts of all ages to learn from some of the nation’s most respected artists while experiencing the rich traditions that continue to connect Harlem and the Hamptons. Events like Apollo in the Hamptons and these free community workshops remind us that preserving culture isn’t only about honoring the past. It’s also about investing in the next generation of artists, storytellers, and creative voices. The partnership demonstrates the power of cultural collaboration while celebrating Black artistic excellence across generations.
Real Talk. Real People.
Growing up in Harlem, the Apollo was never simply another theater. It was the heartbeat of 125th Street. Walking past those famous marquee lights meant something. Every Amateur Night offered someone the opportunity to become the next household name. Every standing ovation became part of Harlem’s story.
Seeing that same spirit celebrated in the Hamptons feels especially meaningful. Sag Harbor has always shared a unique relationship with Harlem. Families built memories there. Friendships were formed there. Traditions continue there today.Apollo in the Hamptons honors that connection beautifully.
Music brings everyone together.
History reminds us why it matters.
Culture ensures the story continues.
That is why preserving the Apollo matters.
That is why events like this deserve our support.
Event Information
Apollo in the Hamptons Saturday, August 1, 2026 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. EHP Resort & Marina (Si Si Restaurant) 295 Three Mile Harbor Hog Creek Road East Hampton, NY 11937
Guests will enjoy exceptional dining, live entertainment, and performances by Brownstone, Estelle, DJ Aktive, and DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic, all while supporting the Apollo Theater Foundation. For tickets and additional information, visit apollotheater.org
Bridgehampton, NY: SOFO’s 37th Annual Summer Gala Some summer evenings remind you exactly why people fall in love with the East End; Saturday night, July 11th 2026 at the South Fork Natural History Museum was one of them.
Long before dinner was served or awards were presented, guests gathered beneath towering trees as the sun settled over SOFO’s peaceful grounds. It wasn’t the typical Hamptons gala scene. There were no flashing lights or loud music competing for attention. Instead, there was laughter, conversation, and a shared appreciation for the environment surrounding us.
The cocktail reception alone was worth arriving early. Each chef showcased a signature bite, turning the evening into a culinary tour of the East End.
Golden Pear Café stole my heart with an incredibly rich lobster mac and cheese that disappeared almost as quickly as it hit the serving tray. Page served tender duck on buttery croissants that practically melted in your mouth. Sen delivered beautifully prepared sushi that looked almost too good to eat, while LDV at The Maidstone impressed with a fresh, perfectly balanced tuna tartare.
Then there was Lunch. Their lobster rolls were overflowing with sweet lobster meat. If you’ve followed me long enough, you already know I’m a lobster purist. Personally, I could have done without the celery. The lobster deserved to be the star of every bite.
One surprise of the evening came from Events by Peter Ambrose. His seafood stew was comforting, flavorful, and one of those dishes that had guests asking, “Who made this?”
When everyone took their seats, the focus shifted from food to purpose.
SOFO honored Bernadette Castro, Fabien Cousteau, Jean Shafiroff, and Stephen and Louise Pesce, recognizing their commitment to conservation, philanthropy, education, and community service.
Louise Pesce, Stephen Pesce, photo Kurt Leggard
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came from Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau, whose words perfectly captured why organizations like SOFO matter.
“People protect what they love. They love what they understand. They understand what they’re taught.”
That message echoed throughout the night.
The live auction featured once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from Antarctica aboard a National Geographic-Lindblad expedition to private villas in Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, ocean exploration in Curaçao with Fabien Cousteau, Kyoto, Scotland, Sonoma Wine Country, and the U.S. Open. Every winning bid helps fund SOFO’s educational programs, giving thousands of children and families the opportunity to discover and appreciate the natural world.
Fabien Cousteau, Andy Sabin, Photo Kurt Leggard
Events like this don’t happen without community support.
SOFO’s 37th Annual Summer Gala was made possible through the generosity of sponsors including the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Wells Fargo, HSBC, National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, RAND Luxury’s Hamptons Concours d’Elegance, Carl Safina & The Safina Center, Whitmores, Summerhill Landscapes, Something Different Party Rental, Dylan’s Candy Bar, the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, and many others. Local restaurants, wineries, breweries, chefs, volunteers, and donors all played a role in creating an evening that celebrated both the East End and the mission of protecting it.
Susan Rockefeller, Annabel Schultz, photo, Kurt Leggard
Walking back through the museum grounds at the end of the night, I couldn’t help but think that this was never just another fundraiser.
Ulrika Parash, Ronan Brady, Jack Blackmore, Declan Blackmore, Ann Blackmore, Audrey Sanchez, William Blackmore, Andrea Marro, Torro Marro, Tatsiana Corcoran, Edward Corcoran, photo Kurt Leggard
It was a reminder that conservation starts with connection.
When children explore a trail, families learn about local wildlife, or a community gathers under the trees to invest in protecting the place they call home, that’s where lasting change begins.
For 37 years, SOFO has been creating those moments. Saturday night was simply another chapter in that story.
Looking for more East End events? Explore our latest coverage of charity galas, community events, restaurants, and things to do across the Hamptons.
Fresh-picked produce, local flowers, artisan foods, baked goods, seafood, and family-owned farms are part of what makes summer on the East End so special. Whether you’re shopping for just-picked tomatoes, sweet corn, fresh herbs, or handmade jams, these Hamptons farmers markets and farm stands offer some of the best local products on Long Island.
July 2026. Market dates and hours may change throughout the season. We recommend checking each market’s social media or website before visiting.
Organic and conventionally grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Round Swamp Farm
📍 184 Three Mile Harbor Road
Amagansett
Amber Waves Farm Market
📍 367 Main Street
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sagaponack
Pike Farms
📍 82 Sagg Main Street
Daily 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fresh vegetables, fruit, flowers, and baked goods.
Montauk
Sea Bean Farm Stand
Montauk’s first organic farm.
Montauk Seaside Market
📍 71 South Elmwood Avenue
Known for fresh produce, prepared foods, and local favorites.
Why Shop Local?
Shopping at Hamptons farmers markets and farm stands supports East End farmers, fishermen, bakers, and small businesses while giving you access to food that’s often harvested just hours before it reaches your table. Whether you’re planning a beach picnic, stocking your summer kitchen, or simply looking for the freshest produce available, these markets showcase the best of Long Island’s agricultural community.
Know of a market we missed?
If you own or operate a farmers market or farm stand on the East End, email Hamptons Mouthpiece with your updated information and we’ll gladly add it to this guide.
Traffic, Housing, and the Real People Behind the East End Economy. To understand the Hamptons workforce housing crisis, start with traffic. Anyone who has ever sat on County Road 39 knows the routine. Coffee in hand, patience running low, inching forward while questioning life choices. I once called it a “rolling therapy session,” and honestly, that still feels accurate.
But here is the thing. That traffic is not just an inconvenience. It is a moving reflection of the Hamptons workforce housing reality. Those cars are filled with the people who make this place work.
The People Behind the Hamptons Lifestyle
The Hamptons workforce housing conversation is not about buildings. It is about people! Its the teachers shaping the next generation. It’s the nurses working long shifts. It’s the restaurant staff who make sure your dinner arrives just right. It’s the landscapers who maintain the beauty that defines the East End.
The Hamptons may be known for luxury, but it runs on everyday people, and without real solutions for the Hamptons workforce housing, those people are being pushed further away from the communities they serve.
Summer in the Hamptons Runs on Workers
Every summer, the demand for Hamptons workforce housing becomes impossible to ignore. Restaurants double their staff. Hotels bring in additional housekeeping teams. Catering companies prepare for a season of weddings that feel like small cities gathering for a night. Landscaping crews expand overnight.
Many businesses rely on seasonal programs like the H-2B visa and the J-1 visa to fill positions when local labor is not available. Without this workforce, the Hamptons summer experience simply would not exist. But even with these programs, the Hamptons workforce housing shortage remains front and center.
The Housing Reality No One Can Ignore
Here is the uncomfortable truth about Hamptons workforce housing: the people who work here often cannot afford to live here. Rents are sky high. Home prices are out of reach. A single bedroom can cost more than a full paycheck for many workers. This forces people to commute from farther west in Suffolk County or share housing in ways that are far from ideal.
Some employers step in and rent houses for staff. Others try to provide stipends. But the reality is simple. Hamptons workforce housing is no longer just a housing issue. It is a workforce issue.
Who Will Do the Laundry
In a previous Hamptons Mouthpiece article, I asked a question that stuck with people. Who will do the laundry? That question cuts to the core of the Hamptons workforce housing crisis. Communities cannot function without the people who keep them running.
We can build luxury homes. We can welcome visitors. But without workers, none of it works. The Hamptons workforce housing conversation is about preserving the balance between a destination and a community.
The Hidden Housing System Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes, the Hamptons workforce housing solution often looks very different from what people imagine. Employers quietly rent houses and place multiple workers inside. Hotels create staff housing arrangements.
Workers share rooms, coordinate their schedules, and rely on their employer’s transportation to get to work. It is a system that keeps businesses open, but it is not a long-term solution to the Hamptons workforce housing challenge.
The Complicated Side of Seasonal Work
The Hamptons workforce housing conversation also intersects with immigration and labor systems. Temporary workers often come through legal programs tied to specific employers. That structure can create stability for businesses, but it can also make workers feel dependent on their employer for both income and housing.
At the same time, agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigate worksite violations and enforce immigration laws. The result is a system that can feel complicated for both employers and workers navigating the realities of Hamptons workforce housing.
Will This Summer Look Different
This is where the Hamptons workforce housing conversation becomes very real for 2026. Across seasonal communities like the Hamptons, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, business owners are asking the same question. Will this summer feel different?
Between rising housing costs, ongoing traffic challenges, and increased awareness of immigration enforcement, there is growing uncertainty about the seasonal workforce. When the workforce is uncertain, the Hamptons workforce housing issue becomes even more urgent.
The Economics No One Talks About
Here is the Real Talk side of Hamptons workforce housing. If employers have to pay for housing, that cost does not disappear. It shifts, and some businesses may absorb it. Others may raise prices. Some may adjust wages or limit hiring. Others may increase pay to attract workers willing to commute. There is no one answer, but one thing is clear, Hamptons workforce housing is now part of the business model.
Traffic Is the Symptom, Not the Problem
That daily drive on County Road 39 is more than just congestion. It is a visible sign of the Hamptons workforce housing crisis. Those cars represent long commutes, early mornings, and workers doing what they need to do just to stay employed on the East End. When people cannot live where they work, traffic becomes the connector between the workforce and the economy. And when that connection breaks, the impact is felt everywhere.
What Happens If Nothing Changes
If the Hamptons workforce housing crisis continues unchecked, the consequences will not be subtle. Restaurants will reduce hours. Hotels will limit bookings. Schools will struggle to hire teachers. Healthcare systems will feel the strain. This is not hypothetical. It is already happening in small ways.
The Hamptons workforce housing conversation is about preventing those small cracks from becoming larger problems.
A Reason for Optimism
Despite the challenges, there is still hope in the Hamptons workforce housing conversation. Local initiatives, including efforts connected to the Southampton Town Housing Authority, are beginning to address the need for workforce housing. Conversations are happening. Ideas are being explored. The Hamptons have always been a place of reinvention.
There is no reason it cannot lead the way in solving the Hamptons workforce housing challenge as well.
The Question We Cannot Ignore
So the next time you are sitting in traffic, take a moment and look around. Every car is part of the Hamptons workforce housing story. Someone is heading to work. Someone is making your dinner. Someone is teaching your children. Someone is caring for your family.
The Hamptons is more than a destination. It is a community. And communities only work when the people who power them have a place to live.
