Wintry skies on an autumn day

The north side of 86th Street between West End and Riverside Avenue. 2:45 PM. Photo: JH.

October 14, 2009. Cool but not sunny most of yesterday in New York. One of those “no-light” days that we get as the weather gets colder. Bleak and blank. Nevertheless, it is autumn in New York and there’s the thrill of it in the air.

Before I forget: tomorrow night, October 15th, The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) is hosting its 21st Annual Preview Party for the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show at the Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street.

More than 1,000 are expected to attend. It’s a great evening, The women dress for a beautiful environment surrounded by the treasures of the civilization. And there’s a great mix of New York -- society, philanthropists, decorators, art enthusiasts, connoisseurs and buffet-gnoshers (meaning just about anyone who passes a buffet).


	Click to order.

You rarely read about the food at these great art and antique fairs but think about it: where the rich and the connoisseurs go to buy? Even their snacks are worth the temptation. For example: another highlight of the evening, will be being among the first to taste Florence Fabricant’s exotic and delicious Pomegranate Mimosa, a recipe featured in Park Avenue Potluck CELEBRATIONS, The Society’s new cookbook (available on October 20th).

There are still tickets available. All proceeds from the evening benefit The Society’s patient care, research and education programs at MSKCC, a very great cause.
To purchase, and for information: contact Charlotte Reardon at The Society: 212-639-7972.

I started out the day at the Metropolitan Club where Lighthouse International was hosting a luncheon for the Henry A. Grunwald Award for Public Service. This award “recognizes individuals committed to advancing public awareness of prevention and treatment of vision loss.

Henry Grunwald was a lifelong journalist, who came to this country from his native Austria at a young age and eventually became the Editor of Time magazine. He later became Ambassador to Austria under Ronald Reagan, a post he held for three years. He died four years ago at age 83.

Time magazine in the days of Henry Grunwald (and before him) was perhaps the most prestigious and widely read magazine in America, perhaps with the exception of its sister Life. They were the mainstays of a once very great magazine (written word) empire.


Time Inc. /From "The Man Time Forgot" Briton Hadden, left, and Henry Luce, center, in 1925.

This was the Henry Luce empire and its presence in the American psyche was without peer for several decades in mid-20th century. There is nothing to compare it to today, even the remains of the Luce empire.

So for a man to be editor of Time in Henry Grunwald’s day was not only a great professional acknowledgement but a position of great influence in the community. Or, in other words, a big deal.

That kind of influence is gone from today’s media. There are tycoons and hotshot editors, and people with connections in very high places. But Henry Grunwald was regarded as distinguished, because he was. And if you knew him (I had the brief but very pleasant privilege), you felt that about him.

Of course he was elderly by the time I met him, and had taken on the courtliness of a man of his age and caliber. And I was therefore a young man to his eye, and of very modest reputation. But he was curious, not only to learn about the man he was talking to but also to learn.


	Louise and Henry Grunwald at The Landmarks Conservancy's 10th annual Living Landmarks gala in 2003.

Late in his life he developed macular degeneration. A pox on a man or woman whose life is about the Written Word. Perhaps. Henry Grunwald used the experience to expand his horizons, to continue to learn, and to even write about it. Twilight: Losing Sight, Gaining Insight, published just ten years ago.

I did not know him well enough to be sure about this, but I always had the feeling he wrote the book because he knew it could be helpful to many others. And you could partake of his natural courage. That kind of journalist, what we could call a rara avis.

Yesterday they feted Howard Stringer, the Chairman and CEO of Sony, with the award. That Texas acerbic/bathed in Broadway ballyhoo, Ms. Liz Smith was the Emcee. It was a big turnout.

This luncheon has become in its short life one of the “prestige” charity luncheons. It draws a big crowd of prominent New Yorkers and social leaders, as well as the “group” who lead the philanthropic circles. It’s always an interesting luncheon because of the guests – last year’s honoree, you may remember, was Steve Wynn of Las Vegas. Wynn revealed that he was severely handicapped vision-wise, and yet he was in no way handicapped about it. So it’s a luncheon with a lesson, as well as promoting awareness.

Louise Grunwald is the Honorary Chair of this luncheon and the force behind its success and popularity. Co-chairs were the Nick and Nora of New York literary and hotshot media and entertainment circles, Pileggi and Ephron. I had to leave the luncheon before Mr. Stringer’s turn at the podium. I heard he was going to be interviewed by Nora. I could detect laughter in the thought. I’ll find out and report tomorrow.

Allen Brill, Alexandra Lebenthal, Muffie Potter Aston, Margo Catsimatidis, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, and Lonnie Wollin at a kick-off cocktail reception at Saks for Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala.

It was a busy night all over social and philanthropic New York. Down at Saks, there was a kick-off cocktail reception on the Third Floor for Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala which is taking place on October 27 at the Waldorf. This year’s honoree is Muffie Potter Aston, a force of nature in New York philanthropic circles and, they say, provider of good dish on any lunch date at Michael’s.

Meanwhile, the New York Stem Cell Foundation was holding its 4th Annual Dinner Celebration, this year themed “Breaking Ground,” with the NYSCF Humanitarian Award going to Frank Gehry, the architect. The award was presented to Mr. Gehry by one of his most successful clients, Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO of IAC occupies a headquarters designed by Mr. Gehry.

And over at the Mandarin Oriental The Casita Maria (Center for Arts and Education) was holding its “Fiesta 2009” at the Mandarin Oriental. They were honoring Adrienne Arsht, Lorenza Dipp de Torres Lample and Nancy Gonzalez. Mario Buatta, that Chintzy-Prince-a-Chintz was emcee along with Maggie Rodriguez. Mr. Buatta is America’s funniest interior decorator. He also has had a childhood crush on Dame Edna, although it never amounted to anything. He’d wait at the Stage Door after a performance for nights on end, and Dame Edna just never appeared. Some said that she’d leave by the front entrance of the theater just to throw her fanatic fans like Mario. I always had the feeling that to Dame Edna, Mario was just another one of those guys who didn’t know when to cool it.

Columbus Circle from the 35th floor ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental. 8:30 pm.

The ballroom looking east to the Bob Hardwick orchestra and Mario Buatta, Jackie Weld Drake and Aileen Mehle -- the evening's so-chairs.

Michelle Harper wearing Victor de Souza.

The table setting.

Helena Martinez.

Nina Garcia.

The Casita evenings are very chic. There is a large contingent of South American/Latin women (and men) who participate in this charity avidly. Their black tie evenings always get chic/ed up a notch or two compared to many others. Glama/the real thing, makes the difference. It brings an attitude with it and that’s: let’s have a good time. Not a bad idea, under any circumstances.

I stayed for the cocktail to see what I could see and high-tailed it after Mr. Mario took the Forum (accompanied by Bob Hardwick on the Steinway grand).