Actor and Amagansett resident Alec Baldwin continued his support of the East Hampton Library, once again co-hosting on Saturday, which brought out 130 authors and raised more than $200,000 for the library.
But he may just have an ulterior motive ... plans for more children.
Last year, , but his daughter, Ireland, with former wife, the actress Kim Basinger, is already 16, and likely won't be using the 6,000-square-foot children's wing upon its completion.
Just a month and a half ago, the 54-year-old "30 Rock" star married Hilaria Baldwin, 28, and having a little one to bring down to the children's wing when it's completed might be in the couple's future.
"That would be great, that would be fantastic. Of course, my wife wants to have kids and I'd love to do that," Baldwin told East Hampton Patch on Saturday.
But, "This isn't about me," Baldwin said, pointing to the best selling authors that show up year after year. "For Bob [Caro] to come here. Bob is at the height of his career ... he's one of the most important historical writers in American history and he's here, under a tent, with people eating oysters and clams in East Hampton."
After the authors reception under the tent at Gardiner Farm, Baldwin was headed to Janet Ross' house for one of the dinner parties in which an author takes center stage. Baldwin was going to dine with former talkshow host, author, Montauk resident and friend Dick Cavett.
In the past year or so, Baldwin has given at least $750,000 to East Hampton organizations, including the Hamptons Film Festival and Guild Hall. The donations have been from his proceeds from his ubiquitous, "What's In Your Wallet?" Capital One commercials.
"I think the most important thing to remember is that I am not a rich person on that level," he said with a laugh. "The Capital One deal has allowed me to act like a philanthropist for the term of the contract."
He hopes it will set an example, particularly to the younger generation — to pick a charity and give more and give often.
"The older I get, the more you put roots down somewhere," he said. He first rented in 1982, and bought his first house in 1987 — he uses attorneys from Tom Twomey, the local law firm run by the president of the library's board, he said.
Baldwin said he shares the frustrations of the local residents. "I'm like everyone else, I'm around that type right now in mid-August when I'm thinking I've got to sell my house and move."
"This is a place where people come to have a good time. It's not a place people come to study ancient Montauk Indian ruins — some do," he said, adding he worries about "the very tipsy crowd" out on the roads. "I worry about that if I were to have another kid, how that would be. At the same time, you can't live in fear."
