soth 11.15

In an extraordinary display of resilience, Nev Schulman crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Nov. 3 — only three months after surviving a devastating bike accident in the Hamptons. While biking to pick up his son back in August, Schulman collided with a truck on his e-bike and was rushed to Southampton Hospital, where he learned he’d fractured his neck. Reflecting on his close call, the TV personality criticized the road safety in the Hamptons in an interview with “South O’ The Highway” just 10 days after the incident: “As a runner and cyclist, I find the absence of shoulders and near-complete lack of bike lanes in the Hamptons both upsetting and extremely dangerous. If there had been a bike lane, my accident simply would not have happened.” During recovery, Schulman longed to return to his passion, running a marathon. Last year, he’d guided his friend Francesco Magisano, a blind athlete, in the race. Although he didn’t plan to participate this year, a text from Magisano saying, “Nev, I want to run it with you. I don’t care how fast or slow we go,” gave Schulman the motivation he needed to defy the odds. With his doctor’s blessing — which he recorded to prove to his wife that he was given the all clear — father-of-three Schulman trained for a few weeks before rejoining Magisano at the starting line. “This was a big one for me,” Schulman shared on Instagram. “Exactly three months ago, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to run again. Today, I proved to myself that anything is possible with the right amount of commitment, determination, and support.”

Celebrating a birthday behind bars is a far cry from the high life for Sean “Diddy” Combs, who turned 55 at New York’s Metropolitan Detention Center on Nov. 4. This year, Combs marked his first birthday in prison after a September arrest on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, shocking the entertainment world. Despite the stark setting, he received a video call from his family, which was shared on Instagram, where Diddy could be heard telling his children, “I love y’all, I can’t wait to see y’all. Thank you for being strong.” Combs — who hosted infamous White Parties at his former East Hampton estate — has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His legal team, led by Marc Agnifilo, insists on a vigorous defense, calling the prosecution “unjust.” The fallen music mogul is being held without bail, with a trial set for May 2025.

In her new documentary MARTHA, Martha Stewart looks back on her famous Hamptons residence on Lily Pond Lane, a place that became synonymous with the quintessential Hamptons lifestyle. After purchasing the 1873 shingle-style home in the early ‘90s, Stewart transformed it into a personal sanctuary. “The realtor asked, ‘What are you looking for?’ I said, ‘How about the wreck on the nicest street?’” Stewart recalls with a laugh. Following a year and a half of renovations, she celebrated her fiftieth birthday there with a now-iconic party featuring blue margaritas from The Blue Parrot and barbecue chicken from a local eatery in Cutchogue. Stewart reflects on how her property became “the beginning of the best era of the Hamptons.” The documentary, directed by R.J. Cutler, premiered on Oct. 4 at the Hamptons International Film Festival and is available to stream on Netflix.

Ally Shapiro, daughter of former Real Housewives of New York City star Jill Zarin, called off her engagement to Jordan Bilfeld after just two months. “After much reflection, [they have] made the difficult decision to end their engagement,” Sag Harbor resident Zarin told “Page Six”. Shapiro’s recent TikTok posts, showing her moving into a studio apartment, seemingly confirmed the change. Meanwhile, Zarin’s social media post wishing her daughter a happy 32nd birthday was filled with words of encouragement, celebrating “a new chapter” and Shapiro’s resilience.

After a turbulent year, Jennifer Lopez is ready to unwind and reconnect with family this holiday season. Following her August divorce filing from Ben Affleck, Lopez told PEOPLE she’s focused on “spending time with my kids and my family from the East Coast.” For Lopez, the holidays bring a welcome pause. “I love all the decorations, the hot chocolate, the music, and the food,” she said, describing her efforts to create “storybook” holiday memories for her twins, Max and Emme. As the new year approaches, Lopez — who spent the summer healing from the end of her marriage at her East Hampton hideaway — says she’s hoping for “a deeper connection to myself and to God.”

We hear…

HamptonsFilm is now accepting submissions for its 25th Annual Screenwriters Lab, scheduled for April 2025. The lab, a celebrated program nurturing emerging screenwriting talent, pairs fellows with established writers for a weekend of mentorship and development in East Hampton. Selected fellows will work one-on-one with industry veterans on their feature-length projects and participate in roundtables and master classes. Past Lab fellows have seen their projects premiere at festivals like Sundance and SXSW, underscoring the Lab’s invaluable impact on rising film talent.

On Oct. 20, Sag Harbor resident Don Lemon was honored for his advocacy by NYC Second Chance Rescue at their annual Drag, Wags & Whiskers charity brunch at Common Ground NYC. The event featured entertainment by Chicky Gorgina and Skye Walker, with special guest Bob Harper in attendance. Guests included Dylan Lauren and Thomas Doherty. The organization, founded by Jennifer Brooks and Lisa Blanco, helps raise funds for animal welfare and rescue efforts.

Sightings

Southampton residents Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos were spotted taking a stroll in Central Park in Manhattan on Nov. 2.

Shinnecock Bay resident Bethenny Frankel attended Heidi Klum’s annual Halloween bash held at the Hard Rock Hotel New York in New York City on Oct. 31. She dressed up as Wonder Woman.

Model Lauren Besselman was spotted playing tennis at Hither Hills Racquet Club on Nov. 5. 

Former Real Housewives of New York City Ramona Singer, a resident of Southampton, cheered on runners at the New York City marathon on Nov. 3.