3.24.10: An inspired day and night | New York Social Diary

An inspired day and night

The night sky above the Hudson River. 10:30 PM. Photo: JH.

March 24, 2010. Yesterday in New York was damp and drizzly after the heavy rains the night before.

I started out late morning with Duane Hampton whose apartment was being photographed by JH for an upcoming NYSD HOUSE interview. Duane’s got a book coming out on the career of her late husband Mark. It’s called Mark Hampton: An American Decorator and it will be released to the bookstores on April 27. Until then it’s under “embargo,” so to speak, so we can’t publish anything on it until that date.


	Duane and Mark on their wedding day.

I did get a glimpse (Duane had it on the coffee table in her living room), however brief, when she was out of the room. It’s a big coffee table book and full of fascinating pictures of people and places (such as the houses and apartments Mark Hampton did for the world’s rich and famous).

I wanted to take it home. It’s like candy for those of us who are always intrigued by people, their places and things, and their histories. It’s one of those books that you can read and look at for hours because of the wealth and variety of details, including Mark’s watercolors of his client’s houses and interiors, and his own life.

Two degrees of separation. From Duane’s I went down to Michael’s to lunch with Dorothy. You may never have heard of Dorothy Zinberg – although in her fields of endeavor she’s very prominent. She is from Boston and has spent her professional life in academia at Harvard where she has held several positions and served several purposes.

But she is famous among the famous for her friendships. It looks almost like an avocation – smart people, talented people, thinkers, artists and even movie stars.

DPC and Dorothy Zinberg at Michael's.

This talent for friendship, especially in one whose motivation is gathering information and knowledge, provides a bonanza of insights. You’re always learning. You’re never bored. Dorothy has that.

She and I were introduced by a mutual friend (Gale Hayman); both told that we would find each other very interesting. That turned out to be true in that there is never a lull in the conversation.

That aside, however, Dorothy seems to know all kinds of people all over the world. In fact when I told Duane Hampton that I was going to lunch with her, she said, “Oh yes, I know Dorothy Zinberg. I met her in Barbados.” One year I ran into her at the Oscars.

She grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, went away to school down the road in Boston, crossed the river to Cambridge and has basically never left home and yet has met and befriended the world.

The pea soup with lobster and croutons.

Dorothy had been in town for this past Monday night’s opening of “Sondheim on Sondheim” at Studio 54. The Master being another old friend of Dorothy. (The show has a limited run, so hurry…) Tonight Dorothy is going to a special screening of “Dancing Across Borders,” which is having its New York premiere at the SVA Theater in Chelsea. The film was made by Anne Bass, another friend. It is about a Cambodian dancer named Sokvannara Sar whom Mrs. Bass met on a trip to Angkor Wat in January 2000. He was sixteen then.

Since then he’s attended the School of American Ballet and is now working with the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. I know Dorothy knows Mrs. Bass but I’ll bet she’s the dancer Sar, and maybe even in Cambodia.

The cocktail reception for the guests at last night's CASA dinner at the Pierre.

Last night at the Pierre, CASA (the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University) held its 18th annual Awards Dinner. The theme of the evening was “A Celebrating of American Leadership in Combating Substance Abuse.”
CASA was founded by Joseph Califano, a former Johnson and Carter Administration aide and advisor and lawyer. His interest in addiction and substance abuse grew out of his experience as Secretary of HEW under Jimmy Carter.

The people of the United States, he told us last night, make up 5% of the world’s population and consume two thirds of the world’s illegal drugs and abuse substances. An amazing statistic, which as commentary gives one pause for thought: who are we?


	Zena Wiener and Joe Califano, founder of CASA.

	The center table.

Joe Califano is looking to rescue the family in American life. He doesn’t say it like that but that is where he’s looking to right things. Families, they have found, who share meals together are less likely to have children prone to substance abuse. In past events, he has recommended to people that they make a point of the family eating dinner together once a week. Now the emphasis on frequency seems even greater.

Up until only a generation ago, family shared meals were normal custom or behavior. Now it has seemingly largely disappeared from American life with the rise of two income families. To revive it seems like a common sense antidote to a huge mental and physical health problem, a simple solution to a complex problem. If anybody is able to revive it, at the source will be Joe Califano.

Last night at the Pierre (black tie), they honored Rep. Patrick Kennedy and the Honorable Jim Ramstad, former Congressman from Minnesota with the CASA Inspiration Award. The CASA Distinguished Service Award was presented to Robert G. Leonidas, President and CEO of Nestle Prepared Foods (Stouffer’s), and the CASA Specal Achievement Award to Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, the law firm of which Joe Califano was once a partner, and which does all of CASA’s legal work pro bono.

I was seated at one end of a long center table. On my right was former Florida governor Jeb Bush and on my left was Kathryn Ramstad, wife of the awardee and Patrick Kennedy. Mr. Bush and Mr. Kennedy talked to each other like old friends although I can’t be sure they know each other very well. Mrs. Ramstad was quite at home in the conversation. There was talk about children and their education and healthcare today, but it wasn’t much different from any conversation between people about their families.

There were several references made to the passing of the Healthcare bill. Joe Califano pointed out that one of its strongest points was in recognizing substance abuse as a healthcare problem that affects almost 60% of medical cases in the US today. He said what has prevented us from recognizing it as a medical problem is the stigma associated with drug and substance abuse. Lose the stigma, he advised. Both Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstad agreed and lauded the measure for recognizing the problem as a national healthcare problem.

Kathryn Ramstad and Rep. Patrick Kennedy.

There are moments on my travels, like last night, where I find myself sitting there, listening, taking in the room, the guests, the conversations, sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, other times perfunctory or non-existent; and myself in awe of the issues at hand.

I was listening to Joe Califano talk about the problem making it quite clear with all of his statistics and stories, that we’re in an epidemic of trouble. We know this whether we talk or think about it or not. I don’t know how else to grasp what he’s saying. But Joe is one of those people who believes there’s a real way out of it, a solution. That’s the inspiration. You realize that enough people like him and we’ll find a solution. And it starts at the dinner table. It’s only a beginning, but a good one. For all of us.

Lee Larson and Judge Sheryl Ramstad (Mrs. Larson), sister of the honoree.

Hilary Califano with the Honorable Jim Ramstad to the left.

Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president, and CEO of Macy’s, Inc., was honored a week ago Monday by the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and FIT’s Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries at the college’s annual benefit gala at the Hilton New York. The Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing at The University of Arizona joined FIT in celebrating Lundgren’s outstanding leadership and achievements in retailing before an audience of approximately 1300 guests. The event raised $4.3 million for FIT and The University of Arizona, of which Lundgren is an alumnus.

Dave Price and Harry Smith from The Early Show on CBS News were emcees. Dr. Joyce F. Brown, president of FIT, and Meredith Hay, executive vice president and provost of The University of Arizona, honored Lundgren and presented him with awards. Jazz trumpeter Chris Botti performed.

Gala co-chairs with Terry and Tina Lundgren, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, and Meredith Hay

Dave Price

Terry Lundgren and Dr. Joyce F. Brown

Among the guests for the evening: Mayor Bloomberg, Martha Stewart, Vera Wang, Russell Simmons, Chris Madden, Josi Natori, Kenneth Cole and Maria Cuomo Cole, Amsale Aberra, Cathie Black, H. Carl McCall, Amy Fine Collins, Roger Farah, Steve Sadove, Ron Frasch, John Idol, Maurice Marciano, Ron Murray, Eric Weisman, Michael Gould, Gilbert Harrison, John and Laura Pomerantz, and Marvin Traub.

Tom Murry and Joseph R. Gromek

Terry and Tina Lundgren with Michael Gould

J. Michael Stanley, Rick Darling, and John Pomerantz

Paige Butcher and Russell Simmons

Chris Madden with son, Nick

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Dr. Joyce F. Brown, Terry Lundgren, and Meredith Hay

Vera Wang

Dr. Joyce F. Brown, H. Carl McCall, and Tina Lundgren

Gilbert and Shelly Harrison with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg

Neil and Amanda Friedman

Tina Lundgren and Cathie Black

Roger and Vivian Farah

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Martha Stewart

Ray Smith and Karen Alberg Grossman

J. Michael Stanley and son Ryan

Steve Sadove and Larry Leeds

Edwin Goodman and Amsale Aberra

Harry Smith and Dave Price

Chris Botti and Kenneth Cole

Dr. Joyce F. Brown and Joan Hornig

And in another part of the forest, two days before, more than 900 of New York’s “Franco-rati” braved a downpour to be a part of the Lycee Francais de New York’s 11th annual gala at the Park Avenue Armory. Titled “Embracing Tomorrow,” the black-tie dinner raised over $1.5 million for the private school, and honored France’s Minister of Finance, Christine Lagarde.

The Gala was a glamorous evening of dining, dancing and special auctions that benefited the school’s academic and extra-curricular initiatives. As the school prepares to celebrate its 75th Anniversary next year, “Embracing Tomorrow” has been established as a guiding mantra in the school’s commitment to developing their students into global citizens with a strong academic background and a culture of diversity from language to creative thinking.

The crowd at Lycee Francais de New York’s 11th annual gala at the Park Avenue Armory, “Embracing Tomorrow."

The gala was co-chaired by Alexandra de Catalogne Bottrie, Mary Ann Freda, and Laetitia Azoulay Zrihen. Other guests included French actress Elsa Zylberstein, Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford, Veronica Bulgari, Alison Levasseur, Roya Heidari, Marie-Noelle Pierce, Bettina Zilkha, Susan Fales-Hill, Charlotte Sarkozy, Jose Fernandez, French Ambassador Pierre Vimont, Yves Thezé, Head of the school and Stephan Haimo, Chairman of the Board.

Alain Bankier, Elsa Berry, Josiane Brogard, Christine Lagarde, Veronica Bulgari, and Michel Brogard

Gala 2010 Co-Chair, Mary Ann Freda, Veronica Bulgari, and Fabrizio Freda, President and CEO of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Alexandra de Catalogne Bottrie and her husband Olivier Bottrie, President Travel Retailing Worldwide of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

Bettina Zilkha and Susan Fales-Hill

Gala 2010 Co-Chairs Alexandra de Catalogne Bottrie, Mary Ann Freda, and Laetitia Azoulay Zrihen

Minister Christine Lagarde receiving Cartier tray from Lycee Francais de New York Board Chair, Stephan H. Haimo and Fabrizio Freda, President

Christine Lagarde

Lycee Francais de New York Teacher Tara Silber and Kelly Rutherford

Student Artists Luke Henderson and Michael Moyal with Alexandra de Catalogne Bottrie, Mary Ann Freda, and Laetitia Azoulay Zrihen

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