Looking to spend a fun holiday weekend in the Hamptons? Tis’ the season to spend time with family & friends toasting, feasting, and enjoying all of the great events the East End has to offer. Here are three great options for this weekend, starting Friday December 7th:

1. Santa Claus Is Coming to Rowdy Hall! Food Drive for Local Food Pantry:

Kicking off The East Hampton Chamber’s Holiday Stroll, Rowdy Hall will be hosting Santa Claus on Saturday, December 8th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Children of all ages can have their photo taken with Santa for a donation to East Hampton Food Pantries of at least $5. Additional contributions of boxed or canned food for the East Hampton Food Pantry will be collected all week long. A holiday meal food drive will also be taking place, any non-perishable, shelf-stable dessert items are welcome. Dreesen’s donuts and apple cider will be served!

FAST RECAP:

Who:              Rowdy Hall and The East Hampton Food Pantry
What:             Visit from Santa
Where:           Rowdy Hall
10 Main St. in the Parrish Mews, East Hampton; (631) 324-8555
www.rowdyhall.com
When:                        Saturday, December 8th from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

About East Hampton Food Pantry:
East Hampton Food Pantry maintains a center for collection, storage and distribution of food to hungry families and individuals. At present, they serve over 400 families weekly, from locations in East Hampton and our satellite in Amagansett. They reach out to those in need and raise public awareness about hunger in the Town of East Hampton. Support is welcomed through volunteerism and donations of food and/or funds.

For further information call Rowdy Hall at (631) 324-8555.  For press information, contact WordHampton Public Relations at (631) 329-0050.

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2. c/o The Maidstone and The Living Room Restaurant will present the annual tree lighting on Sunday, December 9th from 4 – 6 p.m!

At 4 p.m. children will be invited to decorate gingerbread cookies and share secrets with Santa. Grogg, egg nog, wine from Wolffer, tea and hot cocoa will be available for all. The opening of the ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. on the front porch lead by c/o Hotels owner, Jenny Ljungberg. Town crier, Hugh King, will deliver a welcome speech. Pianist, Brad Bayer and the East Hampton High School Choir will perform holiday songs. Following the performances, the tree will be lit and there will be a raffle drawing.

Non-perishable food items will be collected for the East Hampton Food Pantry. There will also be a toy drive for Toys for Tots.  A collection box will be available for new unwrapped toys throughout the holiday season. At 6:45 p.m. both the a la carte menu and the Swedish Christmas Table menu will be offered in the dining room. The Swedish Table four-course dinner is $36 per person plus tax and gratuity.

FAST RECAP:

WHO:             c/o The Maidstone
WHAT:          Annual Tree Lighting
WHERE:       c/o The Maidstone & The Living Room
207 Main Street, East Hampton, NY 11937
WHEN:          Sunday, December 9th 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Menu items include:

First Serving
Herring three ways with classic Christmas garnish

Second Serving
Assorted cold meat plate, Swedish Christmas ham, gravlax, country paté, sillsallad served with mustard and Cumberland sauce

Third Serving
Roast pork loin with Christmas gravy, braised red cabbage and potato purée
or Codfish with horseradish, potato terrine, winter kale and brown butter

Fourth Serving
Trio of desserts
Mini waffles with lingonberry cream, saffron cake with candied hazelnuts and “Ris a la Malts”

Hamptons French press coffee with chocolate truffles and “Knack” after dinner

*For further information contact The Living Room Restaurant at c/o The Maidstone at (631) 324-5006.

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3. On Saturday, January 5, 2013 the Village of Southampton will honor President Lincoln’s signing into law of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

The event begins at 1:00pm where everyone is invited to bring bells to open Bells Are Ringing at the corner of Job’s Lane and Main Street in front of the First Presbyterian Church located at 2 South Main Street in Southampton.

All the church bells of Southampton will ring in unison for one minute. Afterwards participants are invited into the Church to hear the Bell Choir of the First Presbyterian Church and gospel music by Showers of Blessings from Kings Chapel Church of God.  A Public Reading of the Proclamation will be led by Rev. Richard Boyer, First Presbyterian Church and other local clergy.

At 2:30pm a Roundtable Discussion takes place across the street at the Rogers Mansion, a property of the Southampton Historical Museum located at 17 Meeting House Lane. Carol T. Spencer, founder of Diaspora Books, will lead a panel of historians and authors on the meaning of the Proclamation and how it affected the nation and its citizens.

The celebration continues after the discussion with Jazz and Poetry (and Food!) at the Rogers Mansion beginning at 4:00pm and ending at 5:30pm. Brenda Simmons, Director of the African American Museum of the East End, will lead a festival of music and poetry by local jazz musicians and poets. A variety of appetizers and refreshments are being provided by local restaurants, delicatessens and caterers.