10.27.11: Tweet-Tweet | New York Social Diary

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A pigeon and a Golden Retriever lock eyes. 2:45 PM. Photo: JH.

Thursday, October 27, 2011. Fair, occasionally cloudy, not cold not warm. The weatherman is predicting all kinds of wet – rain, snow, cold, but that remains to be seen.

On Monday I had a lunch date that was canceled the day before because my lunch partner had a low level bronchitis which made him cough a lot. I completely understood. Yesterday I went to the doc with similar symptoms and found I had much the same thing. It’s going around, the doc told me. So yesterday I stayed home also. I wonder if you can catch it through email?

Word on the street.

Those black and white babies of East End Avenue.

Despite my stay-at-home status, life went on, ooblah-dee-ooblah-dah, as the Beatles once sang; and last night in New York was a perfect example. Of what I missed.

Beginning with the Wednesday lunch at Michael’s madhouse du jour. Jampacked with conversation, (surely not without controversy here and there). At Table One in the bay (I got this from a little birdie Tweet-Tweet): Bonnie Fuller, Gerry Byrne, Nicole Miller, Aly Racer, Ashleigh Banfield, Noreen Dodge, Dari Marder, Evernolia Gillespie, Maryse Thomas, Diane Clehane, and Heather Thomson (the Yummie Tummie designer of the three panel tanktop -- but you knew that, right?).

Here’s a picture of the crew, with Mr. Byrne the first and last man standing. Some people think DPC goes to Michael’s more than any other individual. T’aint so: you’re looking at the champion, Mr. Byrne. And what’s in all those glasses besides the obvious water? Iced tea, except for that single imbiber of the Rose (probably Domaine Ott).

Gerry Byrne and his girls at Table One yesterday.

Also among those present who just can’t stay away, Barry Diller, Roger Ailes, Liz Smith, Julie Cohen, Larry Kudlow, Dave Zinczenko, Joe Armstrong, Freddie Gershon, Stan Shuman, Joe Kernan, Wayne Kabak, Paula Wagner, Mickey Ateyeh, Henry Schleiff, Carol Stern, Leslie Stevens, Cindy Lewis, Kathie Lee, Andrew Ross Sorkin, Chris Meigher, James Cohen, David Sanford, Lewis Stein, Catherine Saxton, Fern Mallis, Steven Stolman, Jack Bochonok, Rob Weisbach, Deb Shriver, Jonelle Procope, Barbare Guggenheim, Tom Goodman, Mark Rosenthal, Kathy Lacey. American media all in one room under one little roof. Wheels turnin’ churnin’.

Last night, over Archivia where I’m constantly working on my shop-a-holic book habit, they were hosting a book signing for Katie Ridder and her new book Katie Ridder Rooms (Vendome Press). Katie is an interior designer.

Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder.
Click to order Peter's book.

The Pennoyer family all together.
Click to order Katie's book. Or buy immediately at Archivia, (212) 570-9565.

Her husband Peter Pennoyer is an architect. What do you suppose they talk about when they’re together? They’ve certainly got a lot on their minds. I know Peter better than I know Katie, as he’s published several books on architects. He is passionate (there’s no other word for it) about architecture. We most recently covered his book Peter Pennoyer Architects a little earlier this year. I’ll take the castle on the cover.

The whole subject is fantastic (as in fantasy) for me, living in a small apartment, never having the time or inclination (or money) to decorate, collect, design; never having designed or built a house. When I was a kid (pre-teen) I loved to draw houses, even floor plans – and cars, although the kid’s head was always filled with imaginings of who dwelt within those walls. And what happened to them. That fascination still remains as you might have guessed if you read the Diary enough, and I am in awe of those who do engage themselves in the creating process.

But I love looking at these books despite my non-status. I never look at anyone’s living environment without drawing conclusions about the dweller’s life/personality/likes. I could be wrong of course although probably not. Our interiors are like the clothing we wear but in much greater detail, even when it’s “minimal.” Even when detail seems non-existent.

The windows of Archivia last night.

Architecture and interiors continue to have a powerful impact on the way I see people. My first exposure to New York living environments which occurred when I was a very young man new in the city, are still etched clearly in memory. I still refer to them in reflecting on the lives of those who lived there. Taste, as Joseph Alsop once wrote, is “phenomenal” but lives are always compelling.

The Ridder/Pennoyers, I imagine, live in a kind of architectural/design sphere. Although, last night (I made a quick trip over to Archivia for all of ten minutes to get a picture of Katie and her new book), I saw the whole family together. Peter, Katie, daughter Gigi, son Tony. Now when I look at Katie’s book of beautiful rooms, and Peter’s books (and books) on architecture, I’ll have new stories to imagine about the lives within. Although after seeing them with their children for the first time last night, I concluded that what they probably talk about when they’re alone together is: the children.

I did get a quick look at some of the pages of Katie Ridder Rooms. She likes bold color in her environment. So do I.

Also last night, I missed the opening of the fall exhibition of the Chinese Porcelain Company hosted by Pierre Durand, Conor Mahony, and Edith Diconson – the store that has those beautiful windows on the southeast corner of 58th and Park. The subject: Botanical and Ornithological Watecolors by Gertrude Hamilton and Tony Henneberg.

Huge crowd. Different from Michael’s. The collecting, connoisseur, social set among them including: Louise Grunwald, Marit Gruson, Alex Hitz, Geoffrey Bradfield, Mario Buatta, Louis Bofferding, Duke and Hannah Buchan, James and Gina de Givenchy, Oliver Diconson, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Crawford, Amanda Essex, Chris Drago, Peter Bacanovic, Asa Baker, Laurie Bodor, Patricia Cisneros, Robert Couturier, Doug Cramer and Hugh Bush, Ted Hartley, Arthur and Laura Hyde, Charlie and Kristen Krusen, Mark Gilbertson, Ian and Ellen Graham, Mrs. Gerrish Milliken, Sylvester and Gillian Miniter, Tom and Cynthia Murray, Nina Griscom and Leonel Peraino, Mr. and Mrs. Chandler Hovey, Alberto and Annabelle Mariaca, Karen Klopp, Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman, Phoebe Milliken, Carol Mack, Mitch Owens, Roberta Sandeman, Alexandra Schlesinger, Daisy Soros, Marina Rust, Robert Ruffino, Lavinia Snyder, Jill Spalding, Lorenzo Lorenzotto, and scores more just like ‘em. And how did I know all this if I weren’t there? I have my spies -- namely the aforementioned Oliver Diconson who really gets around. And very quickly. And very quietly.


	Pilar and Juan Pablo Molyneux.

	Barbaralee Diamonstein Spielvogel.

More, not there; did just fine without me: Pilar and Juan Pablo Molyneux hosted a cocktail reception at their beautiful Upper East Side townhouse for their friend Marcela Perez de Cuellar, wife of the former Secretary General of the United Nations.

Madame Perez de Cuellar will be honored with the 2011 Watch Award tonight at the World Monuments Fund’s 2011 Hadrian Award Gala at the Plaza along with Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder who will receive the 2011 Hadrian Award.

And over at the Four Seasons restaurant, The Historic District Council presented the 2011 Landmarks Lion Award to Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel who has been a defining voice on major urban issues of our time, including the historic built environment of our city, state and country.

Barbaralee has been Chair of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Foundation, and for the past 17 years, she has been the Chair of the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center, and among her many activities, is a founding Director of the Hine Line.

She also served for ten years on the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, and was the first woman to be appointed to Vice Chair in its ten year history. Her book, Landmarks of New York, is a definitive resource of New York’s built heritage.

And, those fascinating little signs that occupy lampposts that you occasionally see on your walks through the city, the “Historic District Street Sign” is the result of a program she created 20 years ago.

Her newest book (her 20th), Landmarks of New York V, will be published this fall. To accompany its publication, Barbaralee has created a new exhibition on New York City’s historic architecture which will tour eleven cities in New York State. A little something to shout about, no?

Catching up. Last Wednesday evening, October 19, The Royal Oak Foundation transformed the Ballroom of the Metropolitan Club into a Hicksonian vision in chocolate and fuchsia as it honored the design legacy of David Hicks at its 14th annual Timeless Design Gala Benefit.

London design world and their admirers turned out, including Ashley Hicks, David’s son, who accepted the Foundation’s Timeless Design Award on behalf of his mother Pamela (née Mountbatten) and sister, India. Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, eldest daughter of the Duke of Marlborough, represented the best of British design. Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan were among the fashionable flock at Charlotte Moss’s table, along with Emily Eerdmans, Thomas Jayne, and Miles Redd of Oscar de la Renta Home. “The Prince of Chintz” himself, Mario Buatta, reigned nearby, while Mitch Owens of Architectural Digest held court with Charlies Miers of Rizzoli, a sponsor of the evening, and designer and former Royal Oak Chair Patrick Gallagher, who was in from Rome with the principessa of the Roman antique world, Alessandra Di Castro. Current Royal Oak trustee Anne Fairfax of Fairfax and Sammons Architects represented the classical tradition along with architect Thomas Kligerman, President of the Sir John Soane’s Museum Foundation.


Timeless Design tablescape.

The Gala Co-Chairs, Tracy Williamson Dart and J. Rodney Pleasants, rounded out the design world coterie, while host Remmel T. Dickinson added some Broadway panache. Kravet Fabrics and Home Furnishings were a lead sponsor and Ellen Kravet held sway over a table of design notables, including Lee Jofa’s design director, Stephen Elrod and Tod Romano, Ralph Harvard, Katie Lydon and Ann Pyne.

Ms. Moss was honored by the Foundation at last year’s gala and was joined this year by other Royal Oak supporters and trustees from around the country, including Irene Roosevelt Aiken (NY), Jeremy and Friederike Biggs (NY), Herbert and Robyne Camp (NY), Robert Daum (NY), Katherine and Keith Kanaga (NY), Pauline Metcalf (NY and Newport), Marilyn and Stephen Miles (Houston and LaJolla), Bruce and Pamela Perkins (DC); Lynne and Mark Rickabaugh (Boston), Richard and Jeri Rovsek (Rancho Santa Fe); and Susan and P. Coleman Townsend, Jr. (Wilmington), and Phillis and John Warden (NY).

Royal Oak is the American partner of the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the gala raised $200,000 to support preservation and public access to some of the United Kingdom’s most historic and beautiful places.

Sir Simon Jenkins, Chair of the National Trust and well-known author and editor served as Honorary Event Chairman and presented the Foundation’s Heritage Award to Richard Broyd OBE, the founder of Historic House Hotels, Ltd. Broyd’s longtime preservation ally, Bonnie Burnham, CEO of the World Monuments Fund was there to cheer on her friend, along with Royal Oak trustees and museum-world movers and shakers Carrie Rebora Barratt and Tom Savage.

The evening’s live auction, run by Christie’s own George McNeely, gave some indication of the breadth and depth of Royal Oak’s charitable work and connections among the Anglo-American world. With extraordinary travel experience packages ranging from Oxfordshire to North Wales to the Barbados, funds were raised for the Foundations own Scholarship Fund as well as targeted National Trust projects at the fabulous late 17th-C Ham House west of London and Knole, the great treasure house in Kent and home of the Sackville family for 500 years, and the rescue of 600 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Snowdonia National Park that contains the lake that is the legendary birthplace of the Welsh dragon.

Other notable guests included: Andrew Ogletree of Sotheby’s, Linda Allard, Bonnie Burnham of the World Monuments Fund, Renny Reynolds of Renny and Reed, Carolyn Englefield, Maureen Footer, Alison Pincus, Maria Parasugo, Brian White and his partner James Kinney.

Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill and Ashley Hicks

Marilyn Miles and friends

Carrie Rebora Barratt, Tom Savage, and Irene Roosevelt Aitken

Emily Eerdmans, Melissa Gagen, and Pauline Metcalf

David Staub, Mario Buatta, Charlotte Moss, and Renny Reynolds

Richard Broyd and Sir Simon Jenkins

Elizabeth Oates, Cricket Ness, Andrew Ogletree, and friend

Mario Buatta, Alessandra Di Castro, and Patrick Gallagher

Herbert Camp and Ashley Hicks

Jeanne Jones, Jeri Rovsek, with George and Regina Rich

Guy Barbarulo, Tom Savage, Tara Davis, and Bruce Perkins

Gregory Van Boven, Lynn Rickabaugh, and Sean Sawyer

Jennie McCahey, Brian White, Kristen Sarli, and James Kinney

Freidericke Biggs and Sean Sawyer

Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan

Marc and Joyce Johnson with Daniel and Tracy Dart

On Tuesday evening the Rebuilding Afghanistan Foundation held its annual gala dinner at La Grenouille. The evening’s keynote speakers were H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin, Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Nations and Joanne King Herring, author of newly released book, Diplomacy and Diamonds.

The Rebuilding Afghanistan Foundation was founded in 2003 by Alexandra Coolidge and Elizabeth Hartnett; it exists to fund schools and educational opportunities for girls and boys across rural Afghanistan. The Foundation is currently educating over 5,000 students across the country.

H.E. Ambassador Zahir Tanin with his wife, Jorge de Pablo, and Adrianne Dicker.

Ali Lynch, Alisa Tugberk, and Caroline Firestone.

Alisa Tugberk and Elizabeth Hartnett.

Georg and Ines Benes.

Wright Ohrstrom, Claudio Marianti, Joanna de Neufville, Christina Gee, and Valerie Ohrstrom.

Sophie and William Hood.

Inachos Lazos and Kyrill Firshein.

Joanne King Herring.

Looking across the dining room.

Ignacio Arnau Bru, Ambassador Tanin, and Jorge de Pablo.

Committee Table.

Polyphony founders Craig Cogut and Deborah Cogut hosted a concert and dinner Monday evening October 24th for the benefit of The Polyphony Foundation. St. Vincent Ferrer Church was packed with close to 700 concert attendees as famed German conductor Felix Krieger enthralled the audience with Polyphony’s renditions of Mozart, Bach, Barber and Puccini.

Master of Ceremonies Paula Zahn was introduced by music producer and TV personality Sol Guy, who reminded the audience of Paula Zahn’s own passion for playing the cello. Met tenor Adam Diegel serenaded all with a Tosca aria accompanied by the Polyphony Ensemble. The young musicians, ranging in age from 10 to 20, wowed the crowd with the virtuosity of their playing. World renowned violinist Gil Shaham was in the audience to support the musicians.

A packed St Vincent Ferrer audience enjoys The Polyphony Orchestra concert.

Felix Krieger conducts Mozart.

Adam Diegel sings an aria from Tosca with The Polyphony Orchestra.

At the subsequent dinner at Café Boulud, additional support was offered by Inside The Actors Studio host, James Lipton and acclaimed violinist, Jenny Koh.

The Polyphony Foundation seeks to bring equal opportunity for music education and other innovative educational programs to Arab Israeli youth, offer Jewish Israeli youth opportunities to participate in these programs and create channels for dialogue between Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. Polyphony was founded in 2011 by four individuals: Craig and Deborah Cogut; renowned concert violinist and co-founded of both The Orpheus Foundation and The Barenboim-Said Conservatory in Nazareth, Nabeel Abboud-Ashkar; and award-winning singer, songwriter, actress, producer, activist and philanthropist, Cher.

Paula Zahn.

Nabeel Abboud Ashkar addresses the crowd.

Today Polyphony is providing Arab-Israeli youth a dynamic pathway to participate in the building of civil society guided by the principle, that through music and the humanities, it can promote a more tolerant and just society and stimulate dialogue between divided communities.

Through music education, training and performances in Israel, Polyphony is creating a bridge between the Arab and Jewish communities based on a common love of classical music and the arts.