Paola Kudacki/VanityFair.com

Following in the footsteps of Gilda, Carol and Lucille, the latest crop of comediennes is putting its own knee-slapping, hilarious spin on entertainment — wrapped in a prettier package, at that. Case in point: Bridesmaids. Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and company have everyone talking, including the dudes who revel in slapstick summer comedies. We’re all for this new breed of female empowerment that’s taking back the laugh.

Q: My best friend is getting married and I’m the maid of honor. The rest of the bridesmaids are in a furor over the dresses and expect me to do something about it. I hate being in the middle….

A: Don’t get in the middle. Remember what is important, your best friend, not the dress!

Espo’s Surf and Sport in East Hampton

Heading to the south fork of Long Island this weekend (or any time this summer)? Check out Tory’s City Guides for where to Eat, Sleep, Shop, and more in East Hampton.

What’s the best way to add a little zip to your interior? Red, says David Netto, Creative Director of Maclaren Nursery and Wall Street Journal contributing editor. Find out what else is on his summer wish list. See the feature…

Summer is officially here this weekend! DJ Cassidy put together the perfect playlist which he appropriately titled “Barbecues, Clam Bakes, Rooftops & Country Clubs.”

1. No Doubt — Underneath It All
2. UB40 — Red Red Wine
3. Arrested Development — People Everyday
4. Sublime — Santeria
5. Rupert Holmes — Escape (The Piña Colada Song)
6. Violent Femmes — Blister in the Sun
7. The Cardigans — Lovefool
8. Chicago — Saturday in the Park
9. Steely Dan — Peg
10. The Doobie Brothers — Listen to the Music

Every Memorial Day, New Yorkers begin their traditional summer weekend migration pattern — to Montauk, Southampton and other chic points on the eastern tip of Long Island. A perfect hostess gift or coffee table read would be Hamptons Gardens. From minimalist landscapes in Amagansett to the lush greenery of the famed Grey Gardens, above, the gardens will inspire you long after you’ve disembarked the Jitney.

We love a good salad in the summer. Here, signature salads from the The Polo Lounge, Michael’s, Milos and Fred’s at Barneys New York. What’s your favorite salad? See the feature…

JG Melon cheeseburger. Photo courtesy of Green Olive Media.

The humble yet delicious burger is the unofficial food of summer. It’s also one of the hardest to perfect, so we asked Jack O’Neill, owner of NYC institution JG Melon, for tips on how to achieve the juiciest, most flavorful bun-full. “Use fresh, good ingredients. Start the burger in a flat pan to sear it and keep in the juices before putting it on the grill.” But what about condiments and sauces and possibly dipping the bun in butter before toasting it? “We also have a special recipe,” admits O’Neill, “Which I’m not giving away.”

TORY TOP 10 BURGER LIST

1. Shake Shack — The secret’s in the buttered buns.
2. JG Melon — Always order with a side of cottage fries.
3. Little Owl — There’s something about their bacon….
4. DB Bistro Moderne — With truffle and foie gras? Genius.
5. Corner Bistro — Nothing fancy but everything good.
6. The Spotted Pig — Roquefort and shoestring fries equal greatness.
7. Five Napkin Burger — Five? Ten is more like it.
8. Peter Luger — Elusively only served before 3 pm.
9. Minetta Tavern — Two cheesy winners to choose from.
10. The Burger Joint — A hidden (literally) gem at Le Parker Meridien.

High-brow and low-brow theater-lovers have found common ground. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the unapologetically irreverent duo behind South Park, have created The Book of Mormon, which critics are calling the best musical of the century (granted, the century is only a decade old, but still…). Eugene O’Neill, the famed playwright and Nobel Laureate whose namesake theater is hosting The Book of Mormon, is probably rolling over in his grave — because even he wouldn’t be able to get tickets to this.

Find out what is inside BeautySnob’s Tina Craig and Kelly Cook’s summer makeup bags. Read on…