Cyndi Lauper in the Hamptons: Girls Just Want to Have Great Reproductive Health Care.

That was Cyndi Lauper’s message when she gave a rare charity performance at Northwell Health’s 4th annual Summer Hamptons Evening (SHE) which raised nearly one million dollars for the Katz Institute for Women’s Health. Playing only five songs, clad in a leopard print summer suit, the rocker/ activist proclaimed her disgust at watching “women’s civil rights stripped away. Safe access is for our health,” she affirmed launching into “She Bop,” “Time After Time,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “True Colors,” and a song that spoke to the moment, “Sally’s Pidgeons.” Bringing action to words, Lauper’s own charity, True Colors United, works to bring an end to homelessness among LGBTQ youth. This fall, she will launch a new foundation to bring OB-GYN care to women in need across the country. And still: a hit on Broadway with Kinky Boots, she is now composing for a new Working Girl musical, collaborating with playwright Theresa Rebeck. Her dedication is limitless, as is her heart.

The evening at Vicki Moran Furman’s stunning Watermill estate and emceed by Rosanna Scotto, featuring Drs. Tara Narula and Stacey Rosen speaking on the importance of heart health for women, was held in a poolside tent decorated in pink, a quintessential production by Lawrence Scott Events.

This grand charity dinner followed the annual Authors Night benefit for the East Hampton Library. After last year’s Covid observant scaled back version, hundreds of authors and guests filled a huge tent at Herrick Park to the max. Ah, just like the old days with many regulars such as Monte Farber and Amy Zerner returning with new books. Amy’s fashion, astronomy, tarot, a sumptuous career in textiles fill the pages of their collaboration, The Enchanted World. I stopped by the table where Alafair Burke sat with her new novel. The daughter of James Lee Burke, the East Hampton resident carries on the family business in crime fiction. Other notables included Marie Brenner, Katie Couric, Alan Patricoff, Carl Bernstein, Tina Brown, all attracting major crowds at their book-laden tables.

Tovah Feldshuh was back with Lillyville, the story of her relationship with her larger-than-life mother. Soon to join the reboot of Funny Girl on Broadway as Fanny Brice’s mother, she’s pleased to be working with Lea Michele. Jewish overbearing mother--she knows the territory. And Steve Madden, yes that Steve Madden was selling his book, The Cobbler. When people want to know his influences, the shoe magnate says, “I simply want to make a living and feed my