When I was a kid, my mom used to bring me to see “The Nutcracker” at Guild Hall’s John Drew Theater (recently rechristened the Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater) at Christmastime. Gussied up in our finest, I remember being awed by the building’s stately but welcoming arches. Nestled next to my mom as the lights dimmed on the circus-like theater, I had the feeling that something wonderful was about to happen.
I think that’s how we all felt when Guild Hall’s two-plus year renovation was finally finished, but maybe a little more: like something wonderful wasn’t just about to happen, but was going to keep those feelings
of awe, wonder and curiosity going for generations. In this, our Arts & Entertainment issue, we celebrate so many wonderful creatives in our community, including a story by staffer Emily Toy on Guild Hall’s amazing update and the truly wonderful people involved in it.
One of those partners in bringing the East Hampton arts institution back to life was the East End construction firm Ben Krupinski Builder, who not only worked on Guild Hall’s transformation but that of other beloved Hamptons cultural spots such as the East Hampton Library, the Parrish Art Museum and the Amagansett Life-Saving and Coast Guard Station. Lana Bortolot got down to the studs with the company’s principles Ray Harden and Stratton Schellinger on what draws them to the work they do on arts institutions and historical buildings beloved to the East End.
I got some insight on the melding (and welding) of art and function with MAC Metalworks owner Mike Chiarello, as well as have my mind expanded by the all-encompassing cultural mecca that is Ma’s House, a place with so much heart. Emily got the skinny on where to shimmy and explored the next generation of Daunt’s Albatross and how its current family shephard, Leo, has made a multi-faceted groove-eat-sleep situation of his family’s long-running digs.
Stephanie Villani took a peek into Stella Flame Gallery, I checked in with podcaster and media maven Ryan Sherman on his favorite East End things, we found gifts galore at the excellent gift shop at the Parrish — and we even got a swanky cocktail from Sag Harbor Cinema bartender extraordinaire, Deborah Lee.
Art, music, dance — it’s all so wonderfully, deeply ingrained in our terrain out here on the East End. And it’s everywhere. Go getcha some, South Forkers.
Amy Zavatto
Editor-in-Chief
