Saturday, August 2

“People will meet nine different species face to face, as the individuals they are,” said Matt Rice, education director at Farm Sanctuary, of his organization’s annual “Hoe Down” in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (it’s not off the L.I.E!), which promises beloved vegan pastimes like Jivamukti yoga and nature hikes, not to mention a barn dance. (That vigorous country air will revive your skinny pothead boyfriend in no time, and maybe even inspire him to get a job!) Animals present will be livestock that have escaped the wrath of the David Changs and Jean-Georges of the world—“Hopefully our animal ambassadors will inspire the guests,” noted Mr. Rice—and are now living out their lives in the relative halcyon paradise of upstate New York. “Pigs really are probably more like humans than any other of the farm animals,” explained Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary president. “They’re social creatures; they baby-sit for each other, the sows do, they raise their young cooperatively, they’re vocal, they communicate with each other, express contentment or discontent…I think they’re more intelligent than dogs. If you look in a pig’s eyes, they’re more human. Winston Churchill said something like, ‘A cat looks down on people, dogs look up to people, but a pig will look you straight in the eye.’” (Believe us, sir, many have!) Meanwhile, less dignified wildlife carouses in Sagaponack, as clothing store Martin + Osa baits a crowd of Hamptonites with sunset cocktails to benefit arts nonprofit Creative Time. The lineup: Socialite kids’ clothing designer Lucy Sykes Rellie and energetic hubby Euan; international-sounding socialites Bronson Van Wyck and Lisa Anastos; socialite-bandit Arden Wohl; tireless striver-socialite Melissa Berkelhammer; fashionistas and kind-of socialites Joe Zee and Candy Pratts Price; and Gavin Newsom ex and definite socialite Kimberly Guilfoyle Villency and her furniture-designer hubby, Eric. And don’t forget the main dish: Observer fashion muse Simon Doonan and designer-partner Jonathan Adler.

[Country Hoe Down, Farm Sanctuary’s New York Shelter, Watkins Glen, N.Y.; 607-583-2225, ext. 221; Martin + Osa cocktails, 82 Fairfield Pond Lane, Sagaponack, 6:30 p.m., invite only]

mbryan@observer.com