Pratt Institute’s 125th Anniversary celebration at the Waldorf=Astoria.

More than 500 guests attended Tuesday night’s glamorous Pratt Institute’s 125th Anniversary celebration, which raised a record-breaking $1,070,000 through ticket sales at the Waldorf=Astoria. The Institute’s golden gala commemorated the alumni and faculty whose iconic works have shaped our world, and honored the Pratt Family, who have actively supported the Institute since its founding by Charles Pratt in 1887; Maximilian Josef Riedel, CEO of Riedel Crystal of North America; Julie Taymor, director of theater, opera, and film; and Kehinde Wiley, artist and contemporary portrait painter. Proceeds from the event benefit student scholarships. In honor of the anniversary, the Empire State Building glowed gold, echoing Pratt's school colors of yellow and black as a tribute to the Institute, which has been a hub of artistic and cultural prominence in New York City for 125 years. Guests were also decked out in their finest black and gold.

Julie Taymor, Maximilian Josef Riedel, Thomas Schutte, and Kehinde Wiley

Pratt Institute’s President Thomas F. Schutte kicked off the evening with welcome remarks followed by the Chair of Pratt’s Board of Trustees, Bruce Gitlin who gave a warm introduction to The Pratt Family and presented Mike Pratt with the first award of the evening. Maximilian Josef Riedel accepted his award and acknowledged the talented students of Pratt Institute, with whom he has collaborated on behalf of the Riedel brand. He was presented his award by Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner. In her acceptance remarks, Julie Taymor stressed the importance of institutions like Pratt in educating artists saying: “There is no soul of America without the arts. Without the arts we don't have a culture, a history. We're not human.” Jeffrey Horowitz, founder and artistic director of Theatre for a New Audience, presented Taymor her award.

Maximilian Josef Riedel, Thomas Schutte, Arlene Dahl, and Marc Rosen

As a tribute to Taymor’s illustrious career, T.V. Carpio, Dana Fuchs, and Martin Luther McCoy, stars of the Academy Award nominated film, Across the Universe, directed by Taymor, performed four Beatles’ songs from the film’s score during the gala. In accepting his award Wiley said: “We have a responsibility to take the riches in front of us and tell the truth about what is out there.” He also placed Pratt students in a special category of artists saying “Artists at Pratt are a particularly rare breed. They are cooler than the students at the other schools.” Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons presented Wiley with the award. Undergraduate photography student Kevin Truong also participated in the evening's speaking program, bringing some event guests to tears and all of the guests to their feet with a standing ovation after he described the world he grew up in -- at a refugee camp in Malaysia -- to the world he lives in now -- attending "one of the finest art and design schools in the world in New York City."

Hal Rubenstein and Fern Mallis

Kehinde Wiley and Russell Simmons

Truong stressed the importance of scholarships in his life and noted that he had received nearly $100,000 in scholarships to pursue his dream of becoming a photographer. "You want to believe that when you're chasing your dream the last thing you should worry about is money, but to be very honest and blunt that is the first thing you worry about. Pratt has eased that burden, and because of that, here I am, about to graduate and take the next steps in living this dream of being a grand photographer in New York City."  Honorees were presented an award designed by undergraduate industrial design student Casey Daurio, who was on hand to celebrate Pratt’s 125th as a student scholarship recipient. Jared Bell, an undergraduate communications design student, was also recognized as having designed Pratt’s 125th anniversary logo. This year’s gala also included the unveiling of works to be featured in “125 Icons,” a new exhibition in honor of the institute’s anniversary featuring the most iconic works by Pratt alumni and faculty as voted on by members of the public. The exhibition will open to the public at Pratt Manhattan Gallery on November 30th and will run through January 2013.

T.V. Carpio, Dana Fuchs, and Martin Luther McCoy

Guests included Pamela P. Auchincloss, arts advocate, philanthropist, and Pratt family member; Hamish Bowles, International Editor at Large of Vogue; Arlene Dahl, actress; Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, writer, activist, television interviewer/producer and former White House assistant; Helmut Jahn, architect; Ed Koren, alumnus and illustrator for The New Yorker; Fern Mallis, creator of New York Fashion Week, former executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and former senior vice president of IMG Fashion; Juan Montoya, interior designer; Carrie Moyer, alumna and artist; Tom Otterness, sculptor; Sheila Pepe, Pratt faculty member and artist; Sylvia Plachy, alumna and photographer for The Village Voice; Karim Rashid, industrial designer and former Pratt faculty member; Marc Rosen, Pratt alumnus, faculty member, Trustee, and designer; Hal Rubenstein, fashion director of InStyle; Stefan Sagmeister, alumnus and renowned graphic designer; Christiane Siedel, actress on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire; and Danny Simmons, painter and founder and president of Rush Arts Gallery. Past Legends Awards recipients include Laurie Anderson, Ralph Appelbaum, Dale Chihuly, Fleur Cowles, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Michele Oka Doner, Cathy Hardwick, Tommy Hilfiger, Al Hirschfeld, Marc Jacobs, Helmut Jahn, Ellsworth Kelly, Emily Fisher Landau, Kenneth Lane, Naomi Leff, John Loring, Peter Marino, Mary McFadden, Richard Meier, Juan Montoya, Takashi Murakami, Beverly Pepper, Karim Rashid, Stanford Richards, Joan Rivers, David Rockwell, James Rosenquist, Julian Schnabel, Robert Siegel, Victor Skrebneski, Patti Smith, Barbara Tober, Pauline Trigère, Emanuel Ungaro, Bruce Weber, William Wegman, Stephan Weiss, Reba White Williams and Dave Williams, Robert Wilson, and Eva Zeisel. Past Corporate Legends include Lawrence Herbert, Pantone, Inc; Joseph Pacifico, CulinArt, Inc.; and Philip Morris.

Bruce Gitlin and Bruce Neman

David and Jane Walentas

Kelsy Parkhouse

Mark Tallman and Christiane Seidel

Casey Daurio, Karen Stone, and Steve Diskin

Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner and Maximilian Josef Riedel

Juliana Terian

Hamish Bowles and Juan Montoya

Mike Pratt

Stefan Sagmeister

Karim Rashid

This past Tuesday night, The Harlem School of the Arts (HSA), the community-based cultural and educational institution serving children and families of all backgrounds for nearly 50 years, hosted its Fall 2012 Benefit at Lincoln Center’s Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse amidst a buzz-worthy atmosphere with leaders drawn from the philanthropic, civic, business, social, cultural, entertainment and media sectors. Hosted by FOX News Channel’s Arthel Neville, the Harlem School of the Arts Fall 2012 Benefit raised more than $200,000 to support HSA’s world-class arts training programs.  The event honored legendary musician, sculptor, painter, producer, recording industry executive and philanthropist Herb Alpert.  Along with his wife, singer Lani Hall, Mr. Alpert recently gifted the Harlem School of the Arts with a landmark $5,050,000 donation, bringing their total giving to HSA to more than $6 million since 2010.  Through this unprecedented grant – the largest single gift to any cultural institution in Harlem – the Harlem School of the Arts will create an endowment providing scholarships for needy students, further enhance its programs and retire its inherited debt.  To commemorate the occasion, the Harlem School of the Arts building will now be known as The Herb Alpert Center, home of the Harlem School of the Arts.

Mark Heimberger, Maya Lee, and Herb Alpert

Joining Harlem School of the Arts President and CEO Yvette L. Campbell, Board Chairman Charles J. Hamilton, Jr. and Vice Chair and Secretary Janice Savin Williams, were a host of notable individuals. These included:  Anita Contini, Bloomberg Philanthropies; New York City Councilwoman Inez Dickens; New York City Councilman Robert Jackson; Dr. Henry Jarecki; Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; Kate Levin, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; Reynold Levy, president, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Bill Moyers, veteran television news journalist who presented Herb Alpert with the inaugural Harlem School of the Arts Leadership Award; celebrated Afro-Latin Jazz Alliance Founder and musician Arturo O’Farrill, John Rhea, Commissioner of the New York City Housing Authority; Rona Sebastian, president of the Herb Alpert Foundation; Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer; Grammy-winning songwriter Valerie Simpson; stage and screen star Tamara Tunie and her husband Gregory Generet; filmmaker Melvin van Peebles; and, Assemblyman Keith Wright, among other notables. The event featured live performances by the Harlem School of the Arts Advance Jazz Combo and song and dance excerpts from Disney’s The Lion King.  Guests enjoyed the performances and atmosphere with views of Manhattan’s West Side skyline in the background while passed hors d’oeuvres were served amidst a lovely fall setting of dahlias and candlelight.

Herb Alpert's award presentation

A major highlight of the evening was the special tribute to Herb Alpert featuring New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg who submitted a witty and fitting video in which he stated, “Herb Alpert, I want you to know how much it means to all of us in New York City that you would choose to reach out from across the country to help us save one of the most valuable institutions.  You’re an extraordinary artist, and a truly extraordinary benefactor.  On behalf of 8.4 million New Yorkers, congratulations, Herb, and congratulations to the Harlem School of the Arts.” Clearly moved by the tribute, that also included personal messages from recording artists Sting and Bryan Adams who are among the countless artists whose careers were shaped by Herb Alpert and his A&M Records, Herb Alpert commented, “A touching and unforgettable night for me, capped off by a thrilling performance by the students of the Harlem School Of The Arts, who showed us how creativity can transform lives."

Harlem School of the Arts Advance Jazz Combo

Jordan Hall

Event Co-Chairs were: Cahill Gordon & Reindell LLP and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Wealth Management.  Sponsors included: Barnes & Noble; Michelle & Marc Goldfarb of Goldfarb Properties; Mac LaFollette and Dawn Davis; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP; Janice S. Williams and Christopher J. Williams; Lawrence S. Zilavy.   Additional support was provided by:  Pamela Carlton and Charles J. Hamilton, Jr.; Judith Gallant and Scott Metzner; Latham & Watkins LLP; MiYoung Lee and Neil Simpkins; Ann and Alton McDowell; Liz Moller and Robert Lemons; Hee-Jung and John Moon; Steven P. Henry; Dr. Henry Jarecki, Falconwood Foundation Inc.; Erin and Christopher Keogh; Celia and Henry McGee; Courtney Lee-Mitchell and Marcus Mitchell; Michelle Fizer Peterson and Julio Peterson; and, Reginald Van Lee.

Student Performers

The HSA Fall 2012 Benefit Committee: Councilman Robert Jackson; Wynton Marsalis; Phylicia Rashad; and, the Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker. Located in Harlem’s historic Hamilton Heights, the Harlem School of the Arts was founded in 1964 by pioneering concert soprano Dorothy Maynor.  Since then, the Harlem School of the Arts has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children from across the City and surrounding areas in an award-winning 37,000-square-foot facility.  HSA's mission is to empower young people, ages 2-18, to find and develop the artists and citizen within themselves in an environment that teaches discipline, stimulates creativity, builds self-confidence without prejudice, and adds a dimension of beauty to their lives.  HSA stands unique among the major cultural institutions in New York City as the sole provider of quality training in five disciplines without an audition.

Christopher Williams and Janice Savin Williams

Arthel Neville

Judith Insell, Arturo O'Farrill, and Yvette L. Campbell

Kelsey Goldsmith, Helen Shelton, and Lindsay Bubbico

Pamela Carlton and Charles J. Hamilton, Jr.

Rona Sebastian and Mort Gleberman

Walter Greene, Elinor Tatum, and Michael Feeney

Jamie Klein and friend

Bill Moyers

Lydia Carlston and Mats Carlston

Rocco Landesman and Herb Alpert

Tamara Tunie, Valerie Simpson, and Gregory Generet

Melvin van Peebles and friends

Dr. Henry Jarecki with Melvin Van Peebles and friend

Michelle Fizer-Peterson and Lydia Carlston

Monday, October 15, 2012, the Women's Committee of the Central Park Conservancy held its annual Fall Luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Four hundred guests attended the fabulous affair. Trudie Styler was the guest speaker. The luncheon was sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels. This year, the Luncheon raised $150,000 to support the Conservancy's work throughout Central Park. Guests included Gillian Miniter, Yvonne Lynam (New York Store Director - Van Cleef & Arpels), Nicole Miller, Alina Cho, Norma Dana, Karen LeFrak, Richard Lambertson, Fe Fendi, Rachael Hovnanian, Liz Peek, Avis Richards, Allison Rockefeller, Fiona Rudin, Jackie Sackler, Claude Wasserstein, Bettina Zilkha, Renee Rockefeller, Anne Hearst, Julia Koch, Kara Ross, Olivier Theyskens, and Jamie Tisch.

Glenda Bailey and Trudie Styler

During the luncheon, guest speaker Trudie Styler was interviewed by her friend Glenda Bailey, Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar. They discussed Trudie's life, career, and extensive work with various environmental charities including founding the Rainforest Fund, working with UNICEF's End Child Exploitation campaign, the Amazon Defense Fund, and many more. Ms. Styler spoke about how when she moved back to New York City and set up residence around the Park, "the emerald cathedral" as she called it, utilizing the Park in a number of different ways. Trudie and Sting also have a special Adopt-a-Bench in Central Park. Anne Harrison is the Women's Committee President. Marcia Mishaan served as the Luncheon Chairman with Carol Mack and Peggy Siegal as Co-Chairmen. Doug Blonsky is President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy.

Marcia Mishaan, Glenda Bailey, Trudie Styler, Anne Harrison, Carol Mack, and Peggy Siegal

Pauline Reyniak, Giorgiana Magnolfi, Annabella Murphy, and Kim Shariff

Heather Stastney, Yvonne Lynam, and Lauren Imperial

Alina Cho

Andrea Henderson Fahnestock and Nell Kleinschmidt

Olivier Theyskens and Marcia Mishaan

Sheri Babbio and Stacey Goneos

Norma Dana, Anne Harrison, and Isabel Rattazzi

Wendy Carduner and Muffie Potter-Aston

Barbara Warren, Yesim Philip, and Jennifer Carlston

Robyn Joseph and Kamie Lightburn

Karen LeFrak, Gillian Miniter, Susan Rudin, and Jennifer Rich

Anne Harrison and Doug Blonsky

Gillian Miniter and Alvina Patel

Susan Calhoun and Aileen Bruner

Gigi Mortimer and Jamie Tisch

On Saturday, October 13th the Jay Heritage Center (JHC) celebrated its Anniversary with a Roaring '20s Gala. They honored two exceptional women, JHC Founder, Catherine "Kitty" Aresty, and preservation advocate Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel for their exceptional efforts as civic advocates, bestowing the very first John Jay Medals for Service. Clear weather and a roaring crowd of supporters dressed in everything from racoon coats and spats to flapper dresses and boas made for an evening that was simply "the bees knees!"

John Jay Medal honorees Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel (left) and Kitty Aresty (right) with Congresswoman Nita Lowey (center)

Rich Clary, Kitty Aresty, Ken Jenkins, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, Suzanne Clary, and Steven Aresty

John Jay Medal awardee and JHC Founder, Catherine "Kitty" Aresty (in red) with her husband Joe, daughter-in-law Rosanne, and son Peter

Carl and Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel with Diana and Melvin Burruss

Carl and Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel with Steve Otis and Karen Keogh

Mimi Magarelli, Rosanne Aresty, and Leigh Garry

Scott and Caroline Wallach

Jeff Segall and Theresa Beyer

Richard and Emmy Klarberg, Rich Clary, and Janet and Lucien Burnett

Pat and Fiona Kennelly

Rye City Councilwoman Catherine Parker with her husband David Walker and Denise and Jim Richards

Jan Archer, John Jay Dubois and Sharon Dubois, and Steve Einstein

Felix Swing Band set the mood!

Allison Rockefeller marvels at the 1838 Mansion door which has been restored to its original dimensions and awaits a final coat of paint and installation in the Jay mansion

John and Jenny Hourihan Bailin

The evening drew over 170 guests to see what's new at the 1838 Jay Mansion

Angela Kosinski and Erin Sinnott in flapper fringe and party paillettes

Allison and Peter Rockefeller with Suzanne Clary and Cathy Rosenstock all in Great Gatsby attire

Larry and Sondra Salley with Suzanne Clary and Frank Sanchis

Lisa and Richard Witten

Cathy Rosenstock and Warrie Price, President of the Battery Conservancy

Zina Lang, Andy Smith, and Kay Booth

Bill and Linda Gordon with Karen and David Thomas

Photographs by Cuttty McGill (JHC).