4.5.11: Eye of the Tiger | New York Social Diary

Eye of the Tiger

Brad Fleischer, Glenn Davis, Ravjiv Joseph, Robin Williams, Moises Kaufman, and Arian Moayed at the opening night of Robin William's Broadway debut in BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO.

Chess-in-the-Schools (CIS) hosted their 2011 Benefit Celebration presenting their College Bound Partnership Awards to Castle Harlan, Inc. and Ramapo for Children.

Both organizations are avid supporters of CIS and the College Bound Program, which provided scholarships to all CIS college bound seniors. The annual benefit hosted over 200 friends of CIS and raised 1.2 million to benefit their programs.

Allison Stewart, co-anchor of PBS' "Need to Know," with College Bound Senior presenting award to Camp Ramapo for Children and Castle Harlan, Inc.

Chess-in-the-Schools, a NYC nonprofit educational organization dedicated to improving academic performance and building self-esteem among students in inner New York City, Title 1, public schools through the game of chess. There are more than 50 elementary and middle schools in New York City participating in this program, which means over 13,000 students will learn to play chess in the 2010-2011 school year.

Since Chess-in-the-School was founded in 1986, more than 500,000 children have been taught the game of chess.

Lewis Cullman and several guests play a round of chess

Simon Harris, a member of The Knight's Council, with members of The Associates

Steven R. DeLott, Senior Counsel at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, a supporter of CIS, with guests

Chess-in-the-Schools' chess instructors

Chess-in-the-Schools college bound senior takes a break to pose for the camera

Last Thursday night was the opening of Robin Williams' Broadway debut in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, at the Richard Rodgers Theater.

Curtain Call for opening night

Trudie Styler and Sting

Billy and Janice Crystal

Robin Williams and Susan Schneider

Tyne Daly

Grace Hightower

Tamara Tunie

Necar Zadegan

Susan Sarandon

Brian d'Arcy James

Ben McKenzie

Kevin Mccollum and Lanette Perry

John Glover and Brynn Thayer

Lin-Manuel and Vanessa Miranda

Hrach Titizian

Elaine Joyce and Neil Simon

Mercedes Ruehl

Also last Thursday night at Sperone-Westwater at 257 Bowery they held the opening reception for Malcolm Morley's Rules of Engagement ...

Isabella Rossellini

Amanda Burden, Angela Westwater, and Barry X Ball

Lida Morley and Malcolm Morley

Greg Lefevre, Light Blackman, and Jon D'Orazio

Gene Debartolo, Harold Streitman, and Stephen Henderson

Eric Fischl and Malcolm Morley

Also last Thursday night at the Barrow Street Theater, they debuted Mike Birbiglia's My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, a new comedy written by (and starring) Mr. Birbiglia.

Mike Birbiglia and Seth Meyers

Mike Birbiglia and Nasim Pedrad

Seth Meyers

John Mulaney

Nathan Lane

The Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL), hosted a special black tie dinner earlier last month to celebrate the opening of its first permanent home, the new DiMenna Center for Classical Music. The official opening was the day before on March 8th. The dinner provided the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Orchestra’s generous supporters.

The evening featured an intimate performance by the orchestra and acclaimed violinist Christian Tetzlaff, followed by dinner and dancing to waltzes. The center is named for Joe and Diana DiMenna, who were honored for their leadership and dedication to Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Other notable attendees included OSL Chairman Norman S. Benzaquen, Jonathan Rose, Art Samberg, and Judy Zankel.

The official ribbon-cutting at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music

The DiMenna Center's Mary Flagler Cary Hall, décor by David Monn

Violinist Christian Tetzlaff plays with Orchestra of St. Luke's

The opening of the DiMenna Center marks a new chapter for OSL which has served New York’s audiences for the past 36 years. In addition to serving as St. Luke’s creative and administrative home, it also will provide a vital new rehearsal and recording resource in New York for local and touring musicians.

The dinner followed a series of opening festivities including: a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring a special performance by Orchestra of St. Luke’s with mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and the world premiere of involuntary, a fanfare commissioned from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang.

H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture's Hugh Hardy

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Edward Ames and Jane Sokolow

Orchestra of St. Luke's Trustee Janet Seidler, Orchestra of St. Luke's President and Executive Director Katy Clark, and Elaine Ward

Carmela Rea and H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture's Geoff Lynch

New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, Diana DiMenna, Joe DiMenna, and Orchestra of St. Luke's President and Executive Director Katy Clark

Baryshnikov Arts Center Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov and Orchestra of St. Luke's Co-Founder and President Emeritus Marianne Lockwood

Gil Ricotta, Andrea Niedziela and Orchestra of St. Luke's V. P. of Finance and Operations Zev Greenfield

St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble flautist Elizabeth Mann

Orchestra of St. Luke's Trustee Bill Watt

Orchestra of St. Luke's Board Chairman Norman Benzaquen and Judy Zankel

Deirdre and Larry Bader

Barbara Feldon

Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and conductor Patrick Summers

Robert and Jean Ashton (center) and their daughters Katherine and Emily

Joe DiMenna

Mark Sylvestri and Orchestra of St. Luke's Trustee Kristen Barbato

New York City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin

Carol Grossman and Orchestra of St. Luke's President and Executive Director Katy Clark

Joe DiMenna and Baryshnikov Arts Center Artistic Director, Mikhail Baryshnikov

Janet Wallach, Bob Menschel, and Marianne Lockwood

Jonathan Rose and Bill Rhoads

Last Tuesday night, more than 400 gathered at Gotham Hall to toast Bentley Meeker, world-renowned lighting expert who was celebrating the publication of his book Light X Design, a stunning visual collection of his work.

Bentley, who is a hail-fellow-well-met kind of guy was also celebrating 20 years of unrivaled experience in his field. His vast portfolio of work ranges from the simple yet notable events, to elaborate weddings, large-scale private events, and galas for such clients as Kanye West, Marc Anthony, Billy Joel, Robert DeNiro, and the wedding of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky. His new book features case studies of work by the inimitable lighting design guru, detailing two decades of glamorous and sublime illuminations. Notable examples include P. Diddy's 40th birthday party, and the weddings of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones and Melissa Rivers’ iconic winter wedding.

Among those attending were stylist Patricia Field, Jay McInerney, Elena Brower, Cassandra Seidenfeld, R. Couri Hay, Michele Gerber Klein, Harriette Rose Katz, Elaine Sargent, and Dr. Shawn Sadri. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Thomas Preti Caterers displayed on floating plexiglass buffet tables, which hung from the ceiling and music by DJ Louie Vega.