After a week of smoky skies that had cast a hazy veil over the East End, Mother Nature finally delivered a touch of Côte d’Azur magic just in time for the French Heritage Society’s fourth annual Summer Soirée. As if on cue, the clouds parted, the sun emerged, and Bridgehampton was transformed into a scene reminiscent of a glamorous summer evening in St. Tropez—making the following day’s torrential downpour feel worlds away.
Hosted at the beautiful Bridgehampton home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel, nearly 240 guests gathered for one of the Hamptons’ most elegant philanthropic celebrations, embracing the effortless sophistication of Provence while supporting the French Heritage Society’s mission to preserve French architectural and cultural treasures.
Chaired by CeCe Black, Maria Fishel, Rosann Gutman, and Ann Van Ness, the evening combined timeless French style with the relaxed luxury of a Hamptons summer. Guests sipped Champagne, strolled through beautifully appointed gardens, and mingled beneath brilliant blue skies before dancing well into the evening.
Among those enjoying the celebration were Jean Shafiroff, Sharon Bush, Candace Bushnell, Veronique Gabai, Sylvia Hemingway, Pamela Morgan, Julie Wald, Jennifer Farrell, Brenda Howard, Kenneth Hausman, Patricia Cossutta Arostegui, Puly Rincon, Kathy Prounis, Leesa Rowland and Larry Wohl, Martin Shafiroff, Suzie and Pierre Villere, and many other notable supporters of French culture and preservation.
Adding to the evening’s unmistakably French ambiance, luxury partners including Champagne EPC, Maison Gabrielle, Veronique Gabai, Christofle, Baccarat, and SFERRA helped create a setting worthy of the French Riviera. Revel Rouge founder Hank Stampfl infused the celebration with Provençal flair, while French-American vocalist Quentin Bruno, joined by Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks, kept the dance floor lively throughout the night.
Beyond the glamour, the soirée carried an important purpose. The record-breaking evening raised significant funds for the French Heritage Society’s restoration grants, student internships, and educational initiatives. A portion of the proceeds will also support preservation projects closer to home, including grants benefiting Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, Villa Albertine, and St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City.
For one perfect Hamptons evening, guests traded smoky skies for sunshine, Provence came to Bridgehampton, and the French Heritage Society once again proved that preserving history can be every bit as stylish as it is meaningful.
