11.21.11: A New York meeting | New York Social Diary

A New York meeting

Central Park West. 4:00 PM. Photo: JH.

Monday, November 21, 2011. Lovely fair and mild weekend in New York with temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s.

The Nabe. On Saturday I crossed the Park (and the island) and went over to Zabar's. Before entering the store, as is my habit I stopped to peruse the bookseller’s tables in front by the curb. It often has new books at a discounted price. Up until this past Saturday, I didn’t know whom it belonged to because there is always more than one man overseeing the two or three long tables. They usually have a radio going too, always playing opera, or symphonic music (but mainly live opera performances).

There are always people stopping to look. One small table carries autographed copies of Philip Roth’s latest book. Another carries fiction. I don’t know how long they’ve been there but it’s been years, so they’re a fixture to the point that when they’re not there, you wonder what’s missing. They are not the only discount booksellers. There’s another on the next block south in front of what used to be the H&H Bagel store (now gone). H&H was famous for having the best bagels in New York.

This past Saturday, I happened to run into JH who also lives in the neighborhood. He was looking over my shoulder as I was looking at the books, until I turned to see who that guy behind me was who kept kind of crowding me as I moved along.

Then he pulled out his digital and took these pictures. It started with the leaves on the books. I’m always amazed at how he suddenly finds a perfect shot. I’m looking at the same thing but he’s seeing a photograph. At the same time I picked out a book to buy: Niall Ferguson’s “Civilization.”

As I handed the money for it to the guy on the other side of the table, he said to me: “Do you ever wonder how many Niall Fergusons there are out there; writing so many books?”

Enrico Adelman bookseller in front of Zabar's.

I suggested that the author may not being doing a lot of the writing or even the research for it. When these guys get the big bucks (with the media moguls) behind them and appear as talking heads all the time, you know they’re getting major assistance aka help aka even writing. I don’t know about Mr. Ferguson although we know he is only human, and his subjects are not exactly remedial. However, fame and the famous as well; they all fall into the celebrity pit lured by the flash of the buck and all the soapsuds that come with it.

The bookseller guy was enjoying the subject, pointing to two other volumes on his table written by well-known commentators, one of whom I admire as an historian, and the other who I think is a doofus. Here in New York watching media oriented people go from being bright, engaging commentator/writer/ professors into “brilliant” Talking Heads who write New York Times bestsellers you can almost track the moment they begin to believe their own hype. And act it out. Then it’s off to Kardashiania (or rather Kashdashiania) and ka-ching ka-ching. And then they end up in a Woody Allen movie playing themselves.

With that laugh we struck up a conversation with the guy behind the table, talking about books. His name is Enrico Adelman and he was born in Italy although he came to this country when he was about 8 years old, and has been here ever since. And he’s a real Noo Yawker and down-home kinda guy.

I saw “A Hare With Amber Eyes” on the table, right next to “In the Garden of Beasts.” I told him how I’d bought “Hare” off this table last summer; and how I loved it so much I gave copies to friends. He told us that it is the most popular history book he’s ever sold (and is still selling). More than 150 copies. He said many people have bought copies to give away, and that although it was now in soft-cover, people still request the hardbound.

I was surprised but not -- obviously my response to it was only natural, and so it was with others. I love that book. Besides being a compelling story about a family, it is a life lesson on many levels, an excellent example of how history teaches. Or what it can teach. Placed right next to “Garden” on the table, I remarked that I thought “Garden” was the sequel to “Hare.”

From there our conversation moved to other books, writers, opinions and the state of being these days. Enrico shows no signs of his native background. He’s a full-fledged Noo Yawker, accent, attitude and sharp.

The three of us had a good time yakking, as well as laughing. After we left the bookstall – and I headed into the store – I noted to JH that this to me was one of the great things about New York: You can have a ten minute conversation with someone you meet casually on the sidewalk, and leave it feeling like you made a friend. The nabe.

Retailing right along down charity lane: Last Tuesday night at the Millie store on Madison Avenue and 73rd Street Grace Outreach. Grace Outreach is a private non-profit with a mission of giving low income young women the educational tools and training they need to achieve financial independence.

Based in the South Bronx in an area with the highest poverty levels and high school drop out rates in New York City, Grace Outreach’s program offers instruction and individualized tutoring for the high school general equivalency diploma (GED). Its college and career preparation programs take it the next step beyond.

The evening was hosted by Mika Brzezinski, Margaret Grace and Michelle Smith (who is Millie in real life). They had a good crowd, and a shopping crowd, surprise surprise. However, FIFTY PERCENT of the sales were donated by Milly to Grace Outreach. That’s unprecedented! Millie has raised the barre.

Debra Deltz and Katherine Hazan.

Gigi Stone, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Andrea Tantaros.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Cheryl Casone, Kipton Cronkite, Anisha Lakhani, and Carla Holtze.

Coralie Charriol Paul.

Ainsley Earheardt.

Mary Snow.

Anisha Lakhani and Michelle Smith.

Tatiana Perkin and Marisa Arredondo.

Margaret Grace, Carol Williams, Mika Brzenzinski, Karen Reposa, Michelle Smith, and Zeki Blanding.

Laura Dubin Wander.

Heather Borthwick, Douglas Borthwick, and Daniella Vitale.

Anastasia Ohl.

Gillian Miniter.

Gretchen Gunlocke Fenton.

Yann Varin and Melanie Holland.

Krista Schulz and Sara Jacobs.

I’m behind on this one. Three weeks ago the American Friends of Versailles gathered a group of culturally minded philanthropists, art lovers, patrons from France and the US for their annual board of directors meeting an and array of “fetes” which included a champagne reception at the jaw-dropping aerie overlooking all of Central Park, of Tiger Management tycoon Julian Robertson.

The guests of honor were the AFV’s French Board of Directors: Baron Roland de l’Espee, Le Vicomte de Rohan, Mme. Anne-Marie de Ganay, Comtesse Serge de La Bedoyere, Monsieur et Madame Jerome Fouan, Comte Charles-Louis de Mortemart, Mme. Caroline Sarkozy (sister of the French President), Mme. Nicole Salinger, and M. et Mme. Didier Wirth.

David and Catherine Hamilton.

There was also a luncheon at “21,” a “dinatoire” at the home of world-renowned interior designers, Juan Pablo and Pilar Molyneux both of whom are on the board. Guests of honor were Mr. Robertson, Mme. Sarkozy and Steven and Kimberly Rockefeller. Also on the schedule, a luncheon at Café Boulud in the Surrey Hotel, and a farewell reception and dinner at the home of Margaret and Gregory Hedberg.

NYSD has been a guest of the American Friends of Versailles in Paris and at Versailles more than once (2004, 2007). Their week-long trips are memorably spectacular. Their goals are heightening awareness of Versailles with in the US and worldwide, to enhance French and American friendship and to support the restoration and preservation of Versailles for future generations.

David Hamilton and Tennessee Hamilton.

Anne-Marie de Ganay, Louise Stephaich, and Pilar Molyneux (Hostess).

Evelyn Lorentzen-Bell and Libby Horn.

Oliver de Rohan, Gail Freeman, and Andrew Passeri.

Herve de la Vauvre and Paul Krauss.

Nancy Cain Marcus and Julian Robertson.

Augusta Nadler, Nancy Nadler, and Britany Bromley.

Libby Horn and Patsy Dickerson.

Sir Mark Haukohl and Elizabeth Stafford.

Michele Fouan, Anne-Marie de Ganay, Pascal Clement, and Nathalie de Bedoyere.

Cynthia Frank and Marian Edwards.

Rebecca Dunn and Helen Marx.

Anne and Paul Krauss.

Nancy Cain Marcus, Rebecca Dunn, and Melinda Hassen.

Marian Edwards and Princess Beatrice de Bourbon des deux Siciles.

Libby Horn, Britany Bromley , and Anne-Marie de Ganay.

Patsy Callahan and Mitchell Cantor.

Helen Marx and Princess Kristina Kovolenko.

Frances LaGatta-Shelton, Catherine Hamilton, Margaret Hedberg, and Marian Edwards.

New York, New York. The Radio City Rockettes were at the Empire State Building last week to turn the famous icon green, white and red to celebrate opening night of the new 2011 edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

2011 is the 80th anniversary of the Rockettes. The Rockettes first kicked to life in 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri, hundreds of miles away from the glitz and glamour of their present home, Radio City Music Hall.

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