12.10.09: Cold and damp, puddles everywhere

Cold and damp, puddles everywhere

The sun peeks through an overcast city sky. 2:30 PM. Photo: JH.

December 10, 2009. Cold and damp, puddles everywhere from the rains the night before. And chilly. Also getting dark earlier so that by five it was dark.

Lunch at Michael’s with Cornelia Guest. Cornelia has eight dogs. She’s an animal lady. Horses, dogs. She rescues/adopts dogs just like this writer. She lives here in the city and at her house in Long Island, but one of her dogs goes everywhere with her. We were meeting ostensibly to talk about a favorite venture of hers with is “Paws for Patients.” We talked a lot about our animals, and animals in general – Cornelia has been vegan for about four years and even has a garden that provides produce for one of the top vegetarian restaurants here in New York.

She’s also gone very green around her house in Long Island, having discovered the harm the pesticides had on the health of her animals. “Paws for Patients” is another story. For another day soon.

DPC and Cornelia Guest at Michael's.

Steve Millington and Ellen Levine.

Levine's special storm boots, ready for anything including a fiesta.

Last night in New York. There were the Christmas cocktail parties. Georgette Mosbacher, that hostest-with-the-mostest, held her annual holiday do at her Fifth Avenue aerie (NYSD readers have been there in the past). Schedule from 6 to 9 (which is an hour longer than usual for these parties), indicated that there would be many hundreds attending before the night was over.

I got there about quarter to seven and it had only begun to gather. Georgette and her sister Lyn Paulsin know a lot of people and many of them are on this guest list. So it’s eclectic and varied which in New York means there will be a lot of conversation and a lot of pleasure in seeing familiar faces and additional pleasure of meeting new people or seeing a famous familiar face.

Barbara Tober and Georgette Mosbacher.

Georgette greets an old friend.

In the dining room is the round table of bits and morsels of tasty things to eat. This area takes on greater importance after the first hour of the party. In the meantime, the champagne flows. I departed at 7:20, tearing myself away from so many people to talk to. Three of us were waiting for the elevator from which six disembarked. I could tell it was going to be a helluva fun evening.

Lyn Paulsin

Cornelia Bregman

Rob and Mary Henrikson

Mario Buatta and Martha Stewart

Felicia Taylor

Lynn Sher

Diahn McGrath and Robert Zimmerman

Deborah Norville and Julie Chen

Gerry Byrne, Caroline Hirsch, and Andrew Fox

DPC and Nicky Hammond

Cindy Adams and Somers Farkas

Laurie Dhue and Lisa Bytner

Dana Hammond Stubgen and Georgette

Liz Peek

The traffic down Fifth Avenue to 52nd Street was heavy. At 68th Street we cut across to Park. A parking lot. I was going to the Four Seasons restaurant for the White Nights Annual Benefit honoring Donald M. Kendall. Mercedes Bass, who with her husband Sid was vice chair of the evening, invited me to this dinner. I had no idea what White Nights were although Mrs. Bass is a major major supporter of opera and symphony. I had no idea what was in store although I had a feeling it would be interesting.

I got there just as people were taking their seats in the pool room for the dinner.

The White Nights Foundation of America was formed in 1999 to support the activities of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, including the Mariinsky Opera, Ballet, and Orchestra and the Academy for Young Singers and the Young Musicians’ Orchestra. Their objective as an organization is also to foster expanding cultural, educational an business relationships between Russia and the United States.

Mercedes Bass

Donald Kendall and Anna Netrebko

Denis Matsuev

After everyone was seated there was a speaker who talked about the Mariinsky Theatre. I knew the great Valery Gergiev was the head of that company. It turned out that Maestro Gergiev was present at the dinner. Then a man named Frederick Iseman spoke. Mr. Iseman is a financial man. Someone at the table said that he’d driven a taxi when he got out of college and then he made five billion and now ... It all sounds so simple, doesn’t it.

Whatever the roots, Mr. Iseman is passionate about music. You can tell just by the way he talks about it. I’m sure that includes opera. He looks like a mensch-y college professor (five billion dollars later doesn’t really show) but you can tell by his words that he’s coming at things from a different purview. He mentioned that all of these organizations – musical, cultural – were political as well as philanthropic.

This turned out to be the theme of the evening which was a fundraiser for the organization.

A man named Michael White, a former CEO of Pepsico introduced the honoree, Mr. Kendall. Some people may recall a famous, iconic really, photo taken in the late 1950s of Vice President Richard Nixon huddled with Nikita Krushchev drinking some Pepsi-Cola at a commercial fair in Moscow. The implications of that act of drinking the Pepsi, an American product, was looked upon as a positive step in Russian American relations by men like Donald Kendall who was looking at the world through a different, more productive lens. A small one at first, but ... that step was inaugurated by this man they honored last night at the White Nights.

Sandy and Joan Weill and Valery Gergiev on the video screen toasting Donald Kendall.

Listening to Mr. Kendall talk to us about his work with his company in this world, I found myself considering the advantages of American-Russian alliances. We also had a concert by pianist Denis Matsuev who played Rachmaninoff and Ginzburg. Mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova sang Tchaikovsky (from Eugene Onegin). Soprano Anna Netrebko sang Puccini, and the two women performed together “Bacarolle” from Tales of Hoffman.

The supporters of music in the community are an elite group no matter where you may live. That is partly because it is up to them to raise the money to finance the performances and foster the careers. Everybody wins when it is achieved.

The Committee of the evening was a substantial roster of corporate (Alcoa, Whirlpool Corporation), family foundations (Blavatnik, Wolfensohn, Neubauer) to individuals – Lily Safra, Gloria and RJ Brandes, Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom, to Goldman Sachs, as well as many others.

Henry and Elizabeth Segerstrom with Colleen and Gary Rein.

Maestro Gergiev spoke with Joan and Sandy Weill, also major supporters of White Nights. When you watch this intense man at work on the conductor’s podium, you’re disarmed by his casual charm back down on our level. The room was full of heavy hitters of the Establishment sort. Even Jacob Rothschild was there, introducing his friend, the beautiful Natalie Portman around to friends including Henry Kissinger.

Every room of every “event” has its vibe. The White Nights was somewhat European in flavor, and I don’t mean that to imply pretense. But it was clearly an evening to raise money for a cause. It was designed for a certain group of people who were not so much the party types. But people who have “interests.” Many of these people fund culture all over the world. Many of these people are or are connected to leadership in communities, in the world. They know this. It is a highly legitimate and dignified pursuit but it is carried out by forces of personality who under other circumstances could also probably move mountains. And have thought of it. This makes the difference.

It was a lovely evening. The singing was beautiful and Matsuev’s playing is astounding to the point of musically athletic. His Rachmaninoff reminded me of how much I love Rachmaninoff. And then there was the story of Mr. Kendall and the Pepsi-Cola Company. Everything is connected when the world works. It seemed to be doing just that last night at the Four Seasons.

The dinner tables with snowflake orbs above at ACRIA's 14th Annual Holiday Dinner.

Last night down in the West Village, ACRIA (AIDS Community Research Initiative of America) celebrated its 14th Annual Holiday Dinner. This is always a visually creative evening when the space which was once the work studio of Donna Karan’s late husband Stephan Weiss was bedecked with lillies, candles, wall-projections of falling snow, and enormous white globes of snowflake-shaped-paper -- complimenting the sparkiling graphite and white centerpieces on the long, snaking tables. The evening’s hosts were Ross Bleckner, Bob Colacello, Francisco Costa, Ariel Foxman, Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, and Martha Nelson. They saluted the late Claudia Cohen, honoring her posthumously for her service and commitment to the fight against AIDS.

Liz Warner and Samantha Perelman

Bob Colacello and Isabel Rattazzi

Martha Nelson

Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera

Claudia's daughter Samantha Perelman accepted the award. "My mom,” she said, “became involved when a close friend of hers died because of AIDS.” There was much hopeful talk, both onstage and off, of old friends who had died because of AIDS, or new friends who had fallen victim - in probability, prompted by speeches like Colacello’s. "[ACRIA workers] have turned what was once a death sentence into a chronic but challenging disease" he remarked.

Isabel Rattazzi, also on ACRIA's board mentioned that ACRIA "exchanges information and research" with other nations and states. Marlena Vega, a doctor for the organization combats the disease not with medication, but by combating depression: "in the next five years, more than half of the people living with AIDS will be over 50" said Colacello. "these people are 50," said Marlena Vega, "but their bodies are 70... When you treat the depression studies have shown that T-cells go up, Viral goes down, and these people who were once isolated have found the will to live."

Isabel Rattazzi, Ross Bleckner, Kevin Baker, and Donald Baechler

Many renowned artists had contributed art for sale in the silent auction, such as: Richard Serra, Herb Ritts, Nan Goldin, Massimo Vitali, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ross Bleckner, Kiki Smith, Ryan McGinness, Julie Mehretu, John Baldessari, Mary Heilmann, Jeff Koons, Ruud van Empel, Eric Freeman, and Deborah Kass, Dale Chihuly, as did Bob Colacello.

Andrew Saffir, Daniel Benedict, and Bonnie Young, seated at Karan's table, chatted about the organization throughout the evening. Kevin Baker, Donald Baechler, Sonja Nuttall, Ariel Foxman, Liliana Cavendish, Chuck Close, Gillian Hearst Simonds, Julian Schnabel, and Jason Wu were among the guests. -- TS for NYSD

More from last night ... Joined by teachers, students, parents, community leaders, board members and other supporters, including Autism Speaks Co-Founders Bob and Suzanne Wright, Cardinal Edward Egan, and McCarton School Founder and Executive Director Cecelia McCarton, M.D., cut a ceremonial ribbon yesterday to celebrate the opening of the school’s new, comprehensive education center for children with autism.

The new McCarton school, which features fourteen classrooms on three floors, an auditorium, occupational therapy gymnasium, library, office space, cafeteria and an outdoor play area in the former St. Columba Catholic School in Chelsea, is now the largest school in the New York metropolitan area that provides an educational program for children with autism utilizing an integrated, one-to-one model of therapy grounded in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), combined with speech and language therapy, motor skills training and peer interaction.

The McCarton School.

The auditorium was filled with supporters.

Swifty’s catered. Alex Donner provided the music and the auditorium was filled with supporters. The Archdiocese of New York, as well as to Cardinal Egan and Bob and Suzanne Wright played pivotal roles in securing the space for the school.

“The McCarton Center is a model of innovation and excellence in the education of children with autism,” said Suzanne Wright. “Autism is an urgent and growing public health crisis, and there is a desperate need for exceptional schools like this across the country and around the world. We applaud Dr. McCarton on this remarkable achievement and for the work she and her colleagues do every day to better the lives of children with autism.”

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon to celebrate the opening of the school’s new, comprehensive education center for children with autism.

Sid Ackerman, Suzanne Wright, Cardinal Edward Egan, and Cece McCarton.

Bob and Suzanne Wright, Cardinal Edward Egan, Mark Reithmayer, and Rich Brown.

Susan Brune, Chip Loewenson, Andrea Usdan, Adam Usdan, and Madeline Austin.

And last night at the Plaza they held the Leadership in Tourism Award dinner. Attendees included George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, Randy Levine, President of the New York Yankees, Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, Emily Rafferty, President of the Metropolitan Museum, and Jennnifer Steinbrenner Swindal, General Partner and Vice Chair of the New York Yankees.

Also among those attending: Yankees legends David Cone and Lee Mazzilli and Mets legends Ron Darling, John Franco, Ed Kranepool, Ed Charles and Mookie Wilson. Also, Tim and Nina Zagat, Bill Rudin, Danny Meyer, and Tracy Nieporent, Partner of Myriad Restaurant Group.

The Benefit salutes New York City’s vital tourism industry --- last year the sector generated $32.1 billion in total visitor spending and supported approximately 314,000 jobs.

Danny Meyer of the Union Square Hospitality Group, Emily Rafferty (President of the Met), and Harold Holzer (Emily's right hand man).

Randy Levine, President of the Yankees.

New York Road Runner Staffers.

Tracy Nieporent and Penny Glazier.

Naomi and George Fertita, the head of NYC & Company (host of event).

Cocktail hour atmosphere.

Inside the Banquet Room.

Last week ... Susan Magrino invited me down to the Plaza to meet the new General Manager of the hotel, Shane Krige. I’d been to the Plaza several times for events since it’s re-opened although, always in a hurry, I never got a chance to see the many changes that have been made.

We met in the new lobby on the southeast corner of the ground floor overlooking the Plaza Fountain, Bergdorf Goodman and the Park. In the old days, the hotel lobby was much smaller, and located on Central Park South which is now the entrance to the private apartments. The new lobby is located in an area that once upon a time (now long ago) was occupied by the Persian Room nightclub, a venue for top entertainers and recording artists (back in the days when New York had such nightclubs).

Mr. Krige was waiting for my visit in a corner with a table laden with the hotel’s teatime menu like deviled eggs topped with a dollop of caviar, tiny (delicious) scones, tea sandwiches and pastries. One of the things about staying in a London hotel is the “tea” hour (often late morning and late afternoon). Fresh hot tea (many choices) along with the towers of things to eat. Really great for that late morning or late afternoon pick-me-up. Everything is so small that you can conveniently forget you’re consuming a lot. You can see from the photos that I made fast work of the scones and the eggs (I hadn’t had any breakfast – my excuse).

The teatime menu being laid out with the pouring of the tea (English Breakfast) for myself and the Plaza's general manager, Shane Krige.

Hoteliers are a breed unto themselves. Like restaurateurs, they are a 24/7 profession, and the best of them are as committed to their work as men of the cloth are to their religions. South African born and bred, Mr. Krige came to this country to attend Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania for Hospitality Management. After graduating, he’s worked in several positions in this country and in England including the Mansion at Turtle Creek in Dallas and at the Grosvenor House in London.

I noticed as we were sitting there in a strategic corner of the lobby (and I was compulsively, if not subtly, inhaling the dee-lish-ios before me) that Mr. Krige was keeping an eye on the activity going on throughout the room. It never seemed that he wasn’t paying attention to our conversation but I asked him about it. He laughed when he explained that a good manager has to be aware of as much of what is going on at all times and that even in the few minutes we’d been sitting there, he’d made mental notes of matters to address as soon as our interview was over.

A view of the hotel lobby, taken from the second floor balcony of the Assouline bookstore.

Assouline's bookstore carries the vast list of their books, plus others.

The entrance lobby decorated for the holiday season.

The official portrait of the hotel's legend: Eloise as created by Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight. This is not the original portrait, as that was "stolen" one late night after a big private party in the ballroom about 30 years ago.

Sitting there, I discovered that the Plaza has become a destination again. Aside from a lot of activity from hotel guests arriving and registering, there copious visitors coming in off the avenue to look around at the “new” hotel -- or on their way to one of the shops in the hotel -- to business people holding meetings around the tea menu. The hotel is especially keen on making it convenient and comfortable for these business meetings, and I can see it’s a good central location to meet.

After I’d consumed almost all that was set before me (Susan Magrino helped but hardly), Mr. Krige took us up the grand staircase to see the Rose Bar which is a large, comfortable bar and club room (it was very busy at noontime, again with people meeting mainly for business), and the Assouline bookstore right next door.

From there we had a tour of the in house shopping area which is located on two floors – ground floor and below. Amazing. So much to see.

The Eloise apartment which is very kid-friendly, as you can see, and offers tea time and TV watching for the little ones.

Tea time for the kiddies.

I stopped in to visit the new Douglas Hannant boutique (which is an NYSD advertiser). The sales director Thomas Jerzewski gave me a tour and explained to this once-upon-a-time retailer the Hannant concept of marketing high fashion. If a client likes the design but not the fabric, or the color, the designs can be purchased in a variety of colors, made to order.

All the wedding dresses can be made to order in colors as evening gowns, and the evening gowns can be ordered specially as dresses. Because their clientele can also be guests at the hotel, they are prepared to make changes and alterations to accommodate their schedules. The interior of the shop was designed by Geoffrey Bradifeld. A client can view her new dress in an environment that compliments the wearer.

Also last week: More than 80 attended a holiday reception at Graff in New York for the American Heart Association’s 55th Annual Palm Beach Heart Ball, hosted by the ball’s Luxury Chairman Henri Barguirdjian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Graff USA, and honoring the 2010 co-chairs, Melania Trump and Petra Levin.

Graff is the Grand Luxury Benefactor for the 2010 Ball and models showcased its dazzling, one-of-a-kind diamonds including a stunning 70-carat fancy intense yellow diamond ring.

Henri Barguirdjian with Graff Models

Donald J. Trump announced a $100,000 gift to the Palm Beach Heart Ball in honor of his wife. Mr. Trump is the 2010 ball’s National Honorary Chairman, with International Honorary Chairman Sir Elton John; Honorary Chairmen Dame Celia Lipton Farris, Patrick Park and Nathalie Fernandez De LaValle; Legacy Chairman Anne Eisenhower; and Fashion Ambassador Michael Kors.

Other guests included Frederick and Catherine Adler, Geoffrey Bradfield, Charles M. and Marie Bruess, Rhona Graff, Eric Holder, James and Charlene Nederlander, Anka K. Palitz, Felicia Taylor, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kusher, Monica Van Buren, and Bob and Suzanne Wright.