5.18.12: Let us read, and let us dance

Let us read, and let us dance

The debs dancing with their fathers, and the escorts dancing with the debs' mothers at the 71st Annual Bal des Berceaux .

American Ballet Theatre (ABT) held its 72nd Anniversary Season Opening Night Spring Gala benefit this past Monday at The Metropolitan Opera House. More than 1200 patrons, sponsors, supporters, friends, alumni and members of the Board of Trustees were in attendance. The evening was sponsored by GRAFF and Valentino.

The evening featured ABT’s renowned Principal Dancers, as well as Soloists and members of the corps de ballet, in preview performances from the eight-week season, which included Le Corsaire, La Bayadère, Thirteen Diversions, Don Quixote, Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake and Onegin. The evening also included an appearance by students of ABT’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School.

The gala, which also marks the opening of ABT’s spring season at the Met, raised $1.8 million. A portion of the proceeds will support ABT’s education and community outreach programs.

Monica Wambold, Karin Luter, Julia Koch, Sloan Lindemann Barnett, and Nina Davidson

The star-studded red and black tie themed affair had in attendance supermodels Jessica Stam and Alek Wek, popular talk show hosts Nate Berkus and Wendy Williams, actress Bebe Neuwirth, NFL Hall of Fame’s Curtis Martin, photographer and TV personalities Nigel and Cristen Barker, champion figure skater Johnny Weir, celebrity stylist and VH1’s Styled By June star June Ambrose, Inside Edition’s Deborah Norville, Fe Fendi, and fashion designers Christian Siriano, Rachel Roy, Zang Toi and Prabal Gurung. Also on hand were Honorary Chairs Caroline Kennedy and Blaine Trump, along with Co-Chairs Sloan Lindemann Barnett, Nina Rennert Davidson, Julia Koch, Karin Luter and Monica G-S Wambold; Vice Chairs Henri Barguirdjian, Wendy Kahn, Robin Chemers Neustein and Nancy McCormick Vella; and Junior Co-Chairs Sarah Arison and Josette Winograd. Mrs. Michelle Obama, who is also an Honorary Chair, was not in attendance.

Jessica Stam

Nate Berkus

Julia Koch

June Ambrose

Tamron Hall

Alek Wek

Wendy Williams

Deborah Norville and Karl Wellner

Cristen and Nigel Barker

Curtis Martin

R. Couri Hay and Janna Bullock

Fe Fendi

Prabal Gurung

Chris Calkins and Bebe Neuwirth

Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs

Johnny Weir and Victor Voronov

Leslie Ziff, Christian Siriano, and Eva Johansson

Jamee and Peter Gregory

Tallulah Dash and Rachel Roy

Chiu-Ti Jansen

Amy Sacco

Sylvester and Gillian Miniter

Donna D'Cruz

Tom Bell and Dr. Susan Krysiewicz

Julie Macklowe

Alexandra Kerry

Jean Shafiroff

Monique Pean

Zhong-Jing Fang

Sharon Bazbaz

This past Wednesday, City Harvest hosted its annual On Your Plate luncheon at the Metropolitan Club. Susan Fales-Hill was this year's guest speaker. The luncheon raised more than $175,000.

Joy Ingham, Jan Fletcher-Slifka, Topsy Taylor, Jennifer Carlston, and Meghan Carleton Young

Carol Atkinson, Gillian Miniter, Emilia Saint-Amand, Joy Ingham, Topsy Taylor, and Jennifer Carlston

City Harvest is now supplying more than 100,000 pounds of food to New Yorkers in need every month.

Susan Fales-Hill, David Patrick Columbia, and Jilly Stephens

Wenke Thoman and Joy Ingham

Justin Terzi, Gillian Miniter, and Ross Meltzer

Coco Kopelman

Alice Judelson, Rima Vargas-Vetter, and Marva Smalls

Anna Saffir and Eleanora Kennedy

Karen LeFrak

Joy Ingham and Betsy Bartlett

Barbara and Jan Fletcher-Slifka

Jacqueline Weld-Drake and Jamee Gregory

Toby Roosevelt, Betsy Bartlett, and Norma Dana

Marcia Mishaan and Alex Hitz

Edmundo Huerta and Margo Langenberg

Emilia Saint-Amand, Dixie de Koning, Susan Braddock, and Ann Jeffrey

Carol Atkinson and Pat Barrick

Bettina Zilkha

Jan Fletcher-Slifka and Saranda Anderson

Amy Fine Collins

Saranda Anderson, Peter Lyden, and Susan Fales-Hill

Joy Ingham, Wenke Thoman, and Nancy Whaley

Kate Debold, Denise Morgenthaler, and Saranda Anderson

Liz Peek and Susan Fales-Hill

Reina Honts, Jennifer Carlston, and Lisa Seccia

At the 71st Annual Bal des Berceaux on Friday, May 4, seven young women in traditional white made their débuts, and over $500,000 was raised to benefit needy children in France, the United States and other countries.

French-American Aid for Children, which hosts the ball, honored Société Generale with the Children Come First award, in recognition of its 50 years of support for FAAFC's roster of beneficiary institutions, based in both countries, that address the special needs of children who are deprived or at risk, with targeted programs and therapies from highly qualified professionals.

Miss Dunaeva Yulia Vladimirovna, Baroness Allegra Sybil Heloise van Zuylen, Miss Romy Dana Vassilev, Miss Elizabeth Sarah Emma Woodward, Miss Alessandra Moscatello, Miss Kimball Keenan Slade, and Archduchess Isabella von Habsburg

Le Bal des Berceaux, named after its beneficiary orphanage, Les Berceaux de Rouen, started out as the brainchild of the Junior Committee of The Committee of French-American Wives, or Les Dames de l'Ouvoir- as the group was variously known during World War II- when its mission was financial aid for war relief organizations in France. Mme. Jacquie Pahle, soon to turn 96, remembers chairing the ball seven times on its journey since then, from war relief to assistance in childhood development, and from the St. Regis Rooftop to the Pierre and on to the Plaza. It was on Mrs. Pahle's watch that the first small group of débutantes was introduced in 1965. This caught on, but the atmosphere of the original Bal des Berceaux was carried along- hence the edgy, quirky, dashing yet laid back flavor of the gathering, which continues to this day.

The escorts arrive

Débutantes Procession

By some unspoken consensus, men arrive at the ball wearing velvet dinner jackets, butterfly bow ties and hilarious cummerbunds; women may show up in anything from the sleekest contemporary gear to the most theatrical gowns. National dress puts in an appearance, because the default setting is international. All the same, the ball is a distinctively New York tradition, especially in its continuity, so that débutante parents who came of age in the 70's, and so missed meeting Maurice Chevalier, might have been happily startled to find their daughters bowing before a crowd with regulars such as Monique Van Vooren, Dewi Sukarno, Dame Livia Sylva, Jacqueline Stone and Jacqueline Chambord, and, more recently, Didi Pei, Frédéric Fekkai and Rocky Aoki, not forgetting billionaire Yoichi "Yogi" Nishikawa, who always flew in for the ball, to delight and amaze even the youngest attendees with his most original costumes. Yet, for all its vaguely avant-garde panache, it wouldn't be quite right to say, This is Not Your Mother's Deb Ball, because by now, in some cases, it was, and in a few instances, it was even your grandmother's.

Miss Romy Dana Vassilev and Mr. Ricardo Vollbrechthausen

Archduchess Isabella von Habsburg and Mr. Alejandro Vollbrechthausen

Miss Elizabeth Sarah Emma Woodward and Mr. Alexander Chapman

Miss Alessandra Moscatello and Mr. Brian Gonzalez

This year's Ball Chairs were: Jeri Sape, Stanley Weisman, Odile de Schiétère Longchampt, Marguerite Mangin and Miriam Azarm.

This year's débutantes were: Archduchess Isabella von Habsburg, daughter of Archduke Geza von Habsburg and Archduchess Elizabeth von Habsburg, escorted by Mr. Alejandro Vollbrechthausen; Miss Alessandra Moscatello, daughter of Dr. Augustine Moscatello and Dr. Anca Tchelebi-Moscatello, escorted by Mr. Brian Gonzalez; Miss Kimball Keenan Slade, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Slade, escorted by Mr. Nicholas Rosenfield; Miss Dunaeva Yulia Vladimirovna, daughter of Mr. Dunaev Vladimir Valerievich and Mrs. Dunaeva Tatiana Alekseevna, escorted by Mr. Kevin O’Connell; Miss Elizabeth Sarah Emma Woodward, daughter of Mrs. Liza Woodward and the late William Woodward III, escorted by Mr. Alexander Chapman; Baroness Allegra Sybil Heloise van Zuylen, daughter of Baron Thierry van Zuylen, van Nyevelt, van de Haar and Baroness Jacqueline van Zuylen, escorted by Mr. Sims Lansing; and Miss Romy Dana Vassilev, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Vassilev, escorted by Mr. Ricardo Vollbrechthausen.

Baroness Allegra Sybil Heloise van Zuylen and Mr. Sims Lansing

Miss Dunaeva Yulia Vladimirovna and Mr. Kevin O’Connell

Miss Kimball Keenan Slade and Mr. Nicholas Rosenfield

Hon. Philippe Lalliot, FAAFC President Imssy Klebe, and Diony Lebot

Jim Rosenfield was Master of Ceremonies.

Leading supporters were: Société Generale, The Florence Gould Foundation, the Alfred and Jane Ross Foundation, Newman’s Own Foundation, The Arthur Loeb Foundation, Dr. and Mrs. Maurice Goodwin Philanthropic Fund, the Jerome Lohez Sept. 11 SCH Fund, The Ford Family Foundation, The Samuel J. & Ethel Lefrak Charitable Trust, The Thomas P. Sculco & Cynthia D. Sculco Foundation, The Verizon Foundation, LVMH, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Montblanc.

The beneficiaries are: Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, The Children’s Storefront, The Children’s Village, Le Centre Augustin Grosselin, Le Centre Français de Protection de l’Enfance, La Société de Charité Maternelle de Paris, and Surgeons of Hope.

Stuart Sundlun, Baron Robert de Rothschild, Michel Berty, Stanley Weisman, Lisa Woodward, Courtenay Amerling, George Whipple, and friends

Renaud Dutreil, Ray Steckel, Marie-Monique Steckel, Juno Madan, Christine Dutreil, and Avantika Nehru Madan

Hon. Philippe Lalliot, Mme. Mme. Laurence Folliot Lalliot, Véronique Monier, Françoise Monier, Jean-Hughes Monier

Hon. Philippe Lalliot, Mme. Mme. Laurence Folliot Lalliot, Véronique Monier, Françoise Monier, Jean-and Hughes Monier

Leslie Heinemann, Stephen Heinemann, Nicole Tufano

Leslie Heinemann, Stephen Heinemann, and Nicole Tufano

Michael and Joan Kahn

Olivia Flatto, Odile de Schiétère Longchampt, Denis Lebot, Elizabeth Stribling, and Guy Robinson

Alexandre Chemla, Diony Lebot, and Frédéric Fekkai

Elliott and Donna Slade

Nemira Gasiunas, Katryn Medrano, and Cedric Turk

Marie-Louise Quéré-Messing and Francesca Dricot

Archduke Geza von Habsburg, Amrita Douglas, and Archduchess Elizabeth von Habsburg

Jim and Dana Rosenfield

Hunt Slonem, Huguette Hersch, and Rosalee Isaly

Nick Lowry auctions a dollar bill to start the proceedings

Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Gress

Bill and Irma Lunderman, Pamela, and Roy Galloway-Pabb

Diane Ackerman Diane Ackerman and Ralph Destino

Ashley Passik and Baroness Bee Van Zuylen

Celine Wislin and Rodney Lester

Antoine Treuille, Roxane Meningaud-Sirotto, and Dr. Gerard Epelbaum

Joerg Klebe, Harry and Elizabeth Seherr-Thoss

Joerg Klebe, and Harry and Elizabeth Seherr-Thoss

Jean-Jacques de Saint-Andrieu and Danielle Bellanger

Sigourney Romaine, Liane McAllister, Francesca Dricot, Gabrielle Nivet, and Tom Sicard

Jenny James and her daughter Isabelle James

Keiko Ono Aoki and friend

Countess Caroline de Ravel d'Esclapon, and Blake Morris

Elisabeth Cros and Antoine Treuille

Countess Dagmar de Brantes and Edward J Westlow, Esq.

Marco Pecori, Marguerite Mangin, Carla Comelli, and Charles-Henri Mangin

Jeri Sape, Sana Sabbagh, Shiela Atchison, Mariam Azarm

Jeri Sape, Sana Sabbagh, Shiela Atchison, and Mariam Azarm

Brian Milesi and Florence Dupont

Beatrice Dupont and Jean-Jacques de Saint Andrieu

Frank and Claudia Deutschman, Jacques and Katharina Bouhet, and friend

Joan Rosasco

Radoslav and Nina Totchev with Simona and Ted Vassilev

A young friend, Alejandro Vollbrechthausen, Margarita Somnolet, and Lucila Volbrechthausen

Sophie Biscard and Nicolas Luchsinger

Aki Kanazawa, Ellen Yamaguchi, Dr. Edmund Herrold, and Susan Yamaguchi

Kristina Klebe

Marie-Eve and Michel Berty

Christopher Fox and Alexandra Somnolet

Daniel Quintero and his daughter Isabel Quintero

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) honored Ronald and Georgia Frasch & Saks Fifth Avenue, David Monn and Josie Cruz Natori at its annual Gift of Music gala held at The Plaza on Monday, May 7, 2012. As longtime supporters and board members of OSL, these honorees have demonstrated outstanding support for the organization and for classical music in New York City. The event raised $1 million to benefit OSL's performance and education programs and OSL's new home, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music.

"This year's honorees have made tremendous contributions to St. Luke's and to musical life in our city," said OSL President and Executive Director Katy Clark. "As we celebrated their commitment to the arts at our event, we were also pleased to present the gala debut of OSL's new Principal Conductor, Pablo Heras-Casado."

The Plaza Grand Ballroom, décor by Gala Honoree and OSL Board Member David Monn

Orchestra of St. Luke's led by OSL Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado in an All-Mozart Program

Orchestra of St. Luke's with Bass-Baritone Eric Owens

Maestro Pablo Heras-Casado led the esteemed musicians of OSL in an all-Mozart concert, including the Overture to The Magic Flute and Symphony No. 9. The illustrious Bass-Baritone Eric Owens joined OSL to perform arias from Mozart's operas Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro. The evening also included a selection of Strauss waltzes—a hallmark of OSL galas.

An accomplished cellist and current host of WNET's NYC-ARTS television program, Paula Zahn served as the Gift of Music gala's Honorary Chair and Host, presenting awards to each of the event's honorees.

Honorees: OSL Board Member David Monn, OSL Board Member Josie Cruz Natori, OSL Board Member Georgia Frasch, and Ronald Frasch

Astrid Misrahi, OSL Chairman Norman S. Benzaquen and Gala Co-Chair Judy Zankel

Joan Davidson, OSL Co-Founder and President Emeritus Marianne C. Lockwood

OSL President and Executive Director Katy Clark, OSL Board Chairman Norman S. Benzaquen, OSL Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, and Adrienne Arsht

Gala Co-Chair Kenneth C. Natori, Anika Natori, Edward Cardinal Egan, Gala Honoree and OSL Board Member Josie Cruz Natori, and Ken Natori

Gala Co-Chair Lisa Plepler, Gala Honoree and OSL Board Member David Monn, and Gala Co-Chair Alice Tisch

Gala Honoree and OSL Board Member Georgia Frasch, Gala Host and Honorary Chair Paula Zahn, OSL Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, and Honoree and OSL Board Member Josie Cruz Natori

Brian Fisher and Joanna Fisher

Gala Co-Chair Pamela Baxter and Jason Binn

David Monn receiving the Gift of Music Award

Gala Honoree and OSL Board Member Georgia Frasch and Gala Honoree Ronald Frasch receiving the Gift of Music Award from Gala Host and Honorary Chair Paula Zahn

Gayfryd Steinberg, Kathryn Steinberg, Gala Honoree and OSL Board Member David Monn, and Gala Co-Chair Alice Tisch

OSL Board Chairman Norman S. Benzaquen and OSL Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado

Ronald and Linda Anderson, Charles Seidler, OSL Board Member Janet Seidler, Elaine Ward

Diana DiMenna and OSL Board Member Joe DiMenna

Honoree and OSL Board Member Georgia Frasch, Bedelia Hobaica, Gala Honoree Ronald Frasch. Bottom row: Grace Beatrice Frasch, Honor Frasch, and Christian Frasch

Calvin Tsao, David Leung, Vivienne Tam, Vicki Ross, and Zack McKown

Honoree and OSL Board Member Georgia Frasch and Gala Honoree Ronald Frasch

A week ago Tuesday, on May 8th, J. McLaughlin Men's and Women's stores on 72nd and Lexington hosted a "Sip and Shop" night with a portion of the sales donated to Thinking Animals.

The party was in full swing from 6-9, catered by Swifty's. Guests included Karen Klopp, Scott Salvatore and Michael Zabriskie with their dog Butch; Kenneth Widener, Virginia Budney and her dog Pippin, Bonnie Wyper/ President and Co-Founder of Thinking Animals, Inc., Lisa McCarthy, Speedy Metler, Sydney Waud, Mary Van Pelt, Rachel Perry Welty and Bruce Welty, John Glass, Courtney Gibson, Gioia Zwack.

Virginia Budney with Pippin.

Founded in 2010, Thinking Animals, Inc. is a New York-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit whose primary goal is to provide a scientific basis for the intrinsic value of other species and their importance to our collective future. Governed by a board of directors and a scientific advisory board—including philanthropists, scholars, and nationally recognized experts in the field of animal behavior—Thinking Animals fosters an appreciation of animals' cognitive and behavioral capabilities; engages the public in educational experiences that broaden their understanding of, and delight in, the underlying relationships among humans, animals, and nature; and motivates people to become more actively involved in the development of future policies and activities related to animal well-being, conservation and the stewardship of biological diversity.