Playing the Field
Monday July 27, 2009 | Contributor: Jennifer Wright

There aren’t many times in life when you feel as though you’re into a Merchant Ivory movie. As I stood among the large straw hats and flowing summer dresses of the spectators on opening day of the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge, it felt more like a day at Buckingham Palace than a day in Bridgehampton.





However, AskMelissa’s Natalie Merkle and I were definitely in the Hamptons and that was definitely The Real Housewives of New York City’s Jill Zarin enjoying the complimentary Pop Chips—which seem to be popping up at every benefit of late. Zarin favors the sour cream and onion flavor, in case your life is materially affected by knowing those things!





Kourtney Kardashian—reality royalty from Keeping up with the Kardashians—was seen in an elaborate patterned sundress. She was accompanied by her (former?) boyfriend; while they apparently broke up in the final episode of the season, they appeared very pleased with each other at this event. Could it be that reality TV isn’t real?





Star Jones (I am conflicted about whether to label her a reality star) was trying to keep up with the Joneses, accompanied by the requisite cute little dog, Pinky. Pinky seemed very excited by the horses rushing by – though Star kept a firm grasp on her for safety. The same was not required with regard to her boyfriend, Herb Wilson, executive chef at both the SoHo Grand and Tribeca Grand.





New to the reality scene was PC Peterson, a star of the Bravo hit NYC Prep. PC has spent time doing volunteer work in Africa and noted that he “needed to make a change to my party-going lifestyle.” Let’s hope so, since he looked slightly the worse for wear—his arm was in a sling. At least there will be no fist fights the last weeks of the show.


And then there were the real TV stars – Kyle MacLachlan from Desperate Housewives and Chace Crawford and Sebastian Stan from Gossip Girl. Crawford was celebrating his birthday but, try as I might, I couldn’t get close enough for a birthday kiss.


Despite all the celebrity gawking, the real sport of the day was polo. The Argentine export Nacho Figueras and his family were avidly taking in the game. (OK, so he was mostly signing autographs.) Forgotten who Figueras is? So did I (or rather, I never knew). He is one of the world’s top polo players—as one fellow who was clearly there to watch horses rather than people patiently explained to me—and he is also the spokesmodel for Polo Ralph Lauren cologne and the Ralph Lauren Black Watch clothing line. At the store’s tent there was even an opportunity to enter a drawing for a polo lesson with him. I think divot stomping may be more my sport.





Knowing that polo matches are one of the few venues where it is socially acceptable to drink Champagne through a straw, I was disappointed that Moet & Chandon is no longer an event sponsor; many like-minded straw fanciers shared my disappointment. Stoli, however, provided us with fun cocktails, including a “Bridgehampton Classic.”


We walked away from the action-packed event loaded with Pop Chips as well as a goody bag full of boating books from Riva. (Perhaps the organizers figured that after enjoying the sport of kings it was time to take up yachting). The matches among six polo teams continue every Saturday through August 22 at Two Trees Farm in Bridgehampton, with proceeds benefiting the South Fork Breast Health Coalition.


P.S. Despite all my people watching, I do know who won the match—Cinque Terre/Heathcote beat Certified—but don’t count on me for chukker details!


Pictures by Nick Hunt