Hamptons, Hudson Valley, and Newport

Millennial Society's Amanda Lullo, Tim Norton , Joanna Steinberg, Kyle Widrick, Jake Sokol, Scott Schaffran, Rachel Katz, Matthew Dunne, and Leslie Steinberg at the 4th Annual Hamptons Happening for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.

We’re a little late on this but better late than never. Historic Hudson Valley, a non-profit consortium of historic house museums in Westchester and Dutchess Counties, honored two community leaders at its spring Hudson Valley Hero Gala last May 23. More than 300 people attended the dinner dance, raising more than $345,000 for the organization.

The event was held in honor of Howard P. Milstein, chairman of New York Private Bank & Trust and EmigrantDirect, and William M. Mooney, Jr., president of the Westchester County Association.

Locally, Mr. Milstein is involved in a number of charitable initiatives and has been a strong supporter of Rocking the Boat, a Bronx-based boatbuilding and on-water education program that partners with Historic Hudson Valley at Philipsburg Manor, one of the organization’s six historic sites. Demonstrating a commitment to historic preservation in his business affairs, Mr. Milstein was determined to restore the historic First National Bank and Trust building in Ossining, NY, as a new branch of Emigrant Savings Bank and the corporate headquarters of Emigrant’s Internet banking subsidiary, EmigrantDirect.

Deeply engaged in civic and philanthropic activities throughout the region and country, he chairs the New York Blood Center and serves on the boards of a wide range of organizations, including the UJA Foundation and the National Board of the Smithsonian Institution. He is a trustee emeritus and presidential counselor at Cornell University and an overseer of the Weill Cornell Medical College.

New York Private Bank & Trust is the largest privately owned bank in the United States.

Fireworks under the clear-top tent

As president of the Westchester County Association, Mr. Mooney is working to strengthen the county’s economy and quality of life. A variety of community organizations benefit from his commitment and expertise, including the United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties, St. Thomas Aquinas College, New York Medical College, and the Westchester Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Festivities took place amid the lush, romantic grounds of Sunnyside, the homestead of WashingtonIrving set snug against the Hudson River.

Attendees included Mark and Renee Rockefeller, Charles Rockefeller, Charles J. Urstadt, William F. Plunkett, Barbara and Thomas Israel, Jinx Chapman, Karen H. Bechtel, Robert and Kristen DeLaMater, Karen and Don Waite, William Wright, II, Molly Schaefer and Dan Slott, and Jenny and Pierre du Pont.

Proceeds supported the important work of the non-profit Historic Hudson Valley (www.hudsonvalley.org [1]), which welcomes visitors at six National Historic Landmarks: Philipsburg Manor, Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, Van Cortlandt Manor, Montgomery Place, Union Church of Pocantico Hills, and Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate. At each site, dynamic educational programs bring the past to life for thousands of visitors each year, including some 34,000 schoolchildren annually.

Fireworks and patriotic songs performed by the Wall Street Band rounded out the evening.

Peter Pennoyer, Lisa Genova, and William H. Wright II

Honoree William M. Mooney, Jr., Mark F. Rockefeller, and Robert Douglass

William M. Mooney, Jr. and Robert P. Weisz

John Ellis, Susan Ellis, Jan Adelson, Elizabeth Bracken Thomas, Caryl Plunkett, and Geoffrey Thompson

Russ Feroe, Dr. Louise Feroe, Megan French, Cristina French, Al DelBello, and Richard E. French, Jr.

Howard P. Milstein with his parents, Irma and Paul Milstein

Guests enjoyed cocktails on the veranda of Washington Irving's Sunnyside homestead

Charles Rockefeller with Courtney Lorenz and Brenda Spano

Charles J. Urstadt and Howard P. Milstein

Michael Hegarty, chairman of the board of trustees of Historic Hudson Valley, Anita Hegarty, Elizabeth Bracken Thomas, and Geoffrey Thompson

Donna Schwartz, Emily Israel, Barbara Israel, and Marvin Schwartz

Timothy Carey, Andrew Spano, and Philip Zegarelli

Charlotte Ronson has just totally revamped and redesigned her store (Charlotte Ronson) on Mulberry Street between Prince and Spring. It looks fabulous and very sophisticated so last Thursday she decided to celebrate the re-opening with a cocktail party. Vitamin energy drinks and vodka and mini cupcakes where served at the store from 5:30 until 7:30pm

Then there was a second event, a moveable feast, with many more guests arriving uptown at Alice’s Teacup, a charming English style townhouse-tea house on 64th street (opposite Jo Jo's). That party began at 8 and went until late; English style canapes, wonderful English style fare with tea or dangerous cocktails of fresh fruit and alcohol were served.

Ann Dexter Jones and Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss

Mishna Wolff and Lauren Fox

Charlotte Ronson and Dani Stahl

L. to r.: Annabelle Dexter Jones; Megan Marron, Melissa Bent, Susan Kirschbaum, and Kate Young; Leah Nieves.

Charlotte Ronson and Jared Seligman

Devorah Rose and Tracy Stern

Nick Ackerman and James Cruickshank

Newport society turned out to pay tribute to one of its 'glamour girls' Elizabeth "Betty" Brooke Blake at the Newport Art Museum's Bebop Boop Ball on a Saturday night.

The evening opened with cocktails and a preview of the first ever exhibition of pieces from Mrs. Blake's impressive collection of modern and contemporary art. Models floated around the grounds in Angel Sanchez gowns and Tiffany & Co. jewels. NAM board chair Denise Roberts was particularly enthralled with the $6 million necklace worn by one of the models. Though it wasn't made from gems, JoAnne Tucker received many an admiring glance for the stunning strands of fruit adorning her neck.

Denise Roberts, Bill Egan, Jackie Egan, Betty Blake, Rod O'Hanley, and Pierce MacGuire

Former governor Bruce Sundlun was seen talking with gala committee member Mrs. Robert H. (Oatsie) Charles. Mr. Sundlun lifted the first shovel in the ground breaking ceremony of the Cushing Gallery many years ago. Caterine Milinaire called Mrs. Blake the "soul of the museum." Others recalled how instrumental she was in fundraising activities. Throughout the evening complimentary clips about Mrs. Blake could be overheard throughout the tent as people recounted the many contributions she has made to the art world.

Mr. and Mrs. William Egan with Elizabeth Brooke Blake and Roderick O'Hanley

Richard and Margot Grosvenor with JoAnn and Bruce Tucker

Mrs. and Mr. John Grosvenor and friends (right)

James and Kate Gubelmann with Sam Hamilton, Jr.

Elizabeth Brooke Blake and Dr. Karl Emil Willers

Richter and Mrs. Samuel M.V. Hamilton

More than 400 attended the 4th Annual Hamptons Happening at the Wainscott home of Robyn and Ken Joseph on Georgica Pond a week ago last Saturday. The benefit raised more than $250,000 for the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation.

It was a gourmet tasting event which included restaurant serving their signature dishes, and on-line auction, all organized by event planner Harriette Rose Katz. More than fifty prominent individuals and businesses donated items for the auction. Laurie Schaffran and Marion Waxman co-chaired this year’s benefit.

The restaurants participating included: Alice's Teacup, Blue Water Grill, Brandt Beef, davidburke&donatella, DuFour pastry Kitchens, Ichiban Sushi, Il Buco, Il Cantyinori, La Masseria, Leo’s Latticini, Orsay, Perihali, The Seafood Shop, and Spoonbread. The dessert table included Berta Levitas Macaroons, The Fudge Company and Tate’s Bake Shop.

Since 1976, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has been dedicated to funding research on the causes of cancer, developing less toxic, cancer cell-specific treatments, and looking for science-based means to eradicate cancer from our lives. The Foundation is unique in that its international “Institute Without Walls” is a collaboration of leading hospitals, research institutions and medical schools in the U.S. and across the globe in Canada, China and Europe and Israel.

Benefit Committee: Royn Joseph, Laurie Schaffran, Marion Waxman, Meg Axelrod, and Marle Kailas

Harriette Rose Katz

Robyn Joseph with Diane and Marc Spilker

Jayson Hicks, Thomas Mikolasko, Malcolm Price, and Tofer Grant

Elie and Rory Tahari with New Yorkers For Children hosted a beach cocktail at the Taharis’ Sagaponack home. The event was in celebration of Elie’s support for NYers for C and the upcoming grand opening of the Elie Tahari East Hampton boutique. Among the guests: Donya and Scott Bommer, Adelina and Bill Ettelson, Dayssi and Paul Kanavos, Coralie and Dennis Paul, Alexandra and Louis Rose, Kelly and Jay Sugarman, Helen and Timothy Schifter, Euan Rellie, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Gilles Mendel, Stephanie LaCava, Susan Magazine, Susy Korb, Alex White, B. Michael and Rocco diSpirito.