If this summer in the Hamptons had a flavor, it would be bright, airy, and lemon-forward. From a spiked lemonade (with just a thimble of tequila) at the Guggenheim‘s festivities, to Bombay Sapphire’s Sparkling Lemon cocktail at the Montauk Yacht Club, the East End’s crowd found their citrus fix wherever they landed. But it wasn’t just the drinks that were refreshingly zesty—this season’s events brought glamour, the arts, and summertime repose in equal measure all season long. Below, find CULTURED‘s selection of the best the Hamptons had to offer.
Roman+Williams July/August Hamptons Issue Launch
This summer saw the release of CULTURED’s second Hamptons issue of the season, replete with tales of the East End’s art, design, and style from some of its most beloved residents, including Isaac Mizrahi, Liev Schreiber, David Salle, Storm Ascher, and Charlie Marder. Roman + Williams’s Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch had the pleasure of slicing into their own cover, as a cake was brought around decorated with the beachy Cass Bird shot—enjoyed alongside the photographer herself. How many image-makers can say the same?
Eleventy and CULTURED’s Late Summer Luncheon
The Hamptons art world met Milanese craftsmanship at this August fête. Collectors Christine and Richard Mack invited lovers of art and fine Italian textiles alike to their idyllic Bridgehampton home for an intimate luncheon hosted by CULTURED and luxury Italian line Eleventy. The domestic setting was fitting for the brand, as founder Marco Baldassari told CULTURED earlier this summer, “It all started in a living room. No office, no resources—just me, my passion, and an unwavering sense of purpose.” Almost two decades later, the brand has developed a dedicated following everywhere from Dubai to Rome, and now out East.
Burberry’s Topping Rose House Pop-Up
Burberry hosted a Hamptons poolside pop-up complete with tartan pillows, hand-squeezed lemonade, and exclusive accessories to ensure guests got their fill of its signature check. Attendees arrived at the Topping Rose House on the South Fork of Long Island—a refined escape complete with white columns and a wellness spa. Oh, and did we mention the Jean-Georges dining? At a safe distance from the chlorine, attendees got to pick from a line of equine silhouettes like the Burberry Horseshoe and Highlands bags, plus an exclusive preview of the Bridle clutch, which made its debut on the London runway last winter.
Marina Music Series with DJ Oli Benz
Labor Day Weekend at the Montauk Yacht Club came with its own house cocktail: Bombay Sapphire’s Sparkling Lemon. At the club’s holiday fete on the lush and sandy property, guests raised glasses of the easy-to-make and drink signature (1.5 oz of Bombay Sapphire and 5 oz of sparkling lemonade with ice) while DJ Oli Benz spun poolside sets, which stretched from the late afternoon into a particularly festive golden hour. With the marina as a backdrop and boats bobbing lazily in the distance, the scene felt as quintessentially Montauk as one could imagine.
Southampton Arts Center Summerfest
Nearly 500 guests gathered under twinkling fairy lights in Southampton to toast Christine Mack, this year’s Champion of the Arts honoree. Between a DJ set, a saxophone serenade, and small plates from East End favorites such as Shippy’s and Easthampton Shuckers, the Summerfest Gala balanced polish with local charm. Proceeds from the evening will fund the center’s packed annual calendar of exhibitions and programs, ensuring that the arts in the East End are supported well past the holiday, and throughout the year.
Salon 21’s Taste of Italy in Easthampton
Art world insiders, design leaders, and creative peers convened as Salon 21 by Alex Bass hosted an intimate garden dinner at the Maidstone Hotel, inspired by the Italian coast. Between sumptuous plates of seafood, guests clinked glasses in the balmy weather, discussed Salon 21’s summer exhibition “La Dolce Vita,” and looked ahead to the gallery’s fall reopening in a new WSA space.
Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian’s Guggenheim Cocktail
Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian welcomed the Guggenheim Museum’s closest supporters to their East Hampton home for the museum’s annual summer cocktail gathering. The occasion toasted the launch of the Guggenheim Constellation Council, a newly formed philanthropic group offering global access across the museum’s institutions. The evening also honored “A Poem for Deep Thinkers,” Johnson’s acclaimed mid-career survey on view at the museum through January 2026.
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