Panel discussion in the LeFrak Theater for the American Museum of Natural History's 18th annual Spring Environmental Lecture and Luncheon.

Last Thursday noontime, the American Museum of Natural History held its 18th annual Spring Environmental Lecture and Luncheon at the museum. This year’s subject focused on Global Climate Change. Lynn Sherr, correspondent for ABC News 20/20 moderated, as she does every year. Panelists were Dr. Jeremy Jackson, William E. and Mary B. Ritter Professor of Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who is featured in Leonardo DiCaprio’s new documentary, The 11th Hour; Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Wayne and Gladys Valley Professor of Marine Biology and Distinguished Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University; and Sam Waterston, actor and member of the board of Oceana.

Suzanne Cochran, Constance Spahn, Museum President Ellen V. Futter, Sam Waterston, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, and Mary Solomon

On paper this looks like an interesting lecture/discussion. In reality it’s a wake-up call for a civilization, its leaders and its inhabitants who are sound asleep blithely unaware of the tsunami that will take out that civilization. Perhaps it’s because many of us think tomorrow will never come anyway.

The Dessert plate.

Nevertheless, the American Museum of Natural History is to be commended for consistently sounding the alarming and assisting us in understanding what awaits us. The event’s chairmen were: Suzanne Cochran, Veronique Pittman, Mary C. Solomon, and Constance Spahn. All proceeds from the event support the Museum’s scientific research and educational initiatives, including important work in biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Jeremy Jackson, Sam Waterston, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Lynn Sherr, and Ellen V. Futter

The luncheon in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life

Mary Solomon, Lynn and Sam Waterston, Constance Spahn, and Suzanne Cochran

Lori Abeles

Museum Trustee Valerie S. Peltier

Claire Bernard

Gillian Miniter

Bob and Veronique Pittman with Pam Taylor

Barbara Bush

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House hosted its annual spring gala, this year dubbed “Once Upon A Time…” and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. The social services and educational organization raised $1 million to continue their mission to help those in need who live, work or go to school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Gala Chair was Diana Quasha and the Honorary Chairs were Sydney Roberts Shuman and Elizabeth Rohatyn. Allen Brill, Rolex President and CEO represented the event’s underwriter. The Honorary Design Chairs were Bunny Williams and John Rosselli. The Design Co-Chairs were Albert Hadley and Harry Heissmann. The Dinner Co-Chairs were Sara and Charles Ayres, Lisa and Dick Cashin, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Amie and Tony James and LHNH Board President Thomas Edelman with his wife Ingrid.   Allen Brill and Diana Quasha Other Chairs, Table Hosts and Board Members included: Evaand Brendan Dillon, Allen Adler and Frances Beatty, Mal and Ann Barasch, Kathy Angele, Judy and Stanley Zabar, Arthur L. Loeb, Marianna and Juan Sabater, Bruce Addison, Kate and Chris Allen, Wiggie and Mark Bitter, Jennifer and James Cacioppo, Anastasia and Alexander Coleman, Bryan Colwell, Heather and Andrew Georges, Mark Gilbertson, Lisa and Philip Gorrivan, Paige and Tripp Hardy, Debra Kanabis, Serena and William Lese, Kamie and Richard Lightburn, Melissa and Charles Manice, Christopher Manice, Mary and Ian Snow, Chris Spitzmiller, J. Kevin Smith, Margot and Randolph Takian and Mary and Guy Van Pelt. The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for almost 1,000 guests at The Park Avenue Armory, who previewed The Spring International Art and Antiques Show. The amazing cornucopia of priceless collectables produced by Westchester Enterprises (represented by its Director Meg Geslin) remained open until April 29th.  Fifty of the most important International dealers from 9 countries (United States, France, England, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Russia) displayed a vast range of pieces from the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese and pre-Colombian civilizations as well as 17th to 21st-century English, French, and continental furniture; accessories; decorative arts; fine, modern and contemporary art; antique and contemporary jewelry; rare books; rugs and more. Noted designer Angel Sanchez dressed many of the evening’s Chairs and Table Hosts in elegant spring gowns.   The magical night continued with dinner at 40 highly stylized tables reflecting different interpretations of the evening’s theme.

Antony Todd stands by his table.

The Table designers included Amy Lau, Jeff Lincoln for Scalamandré, Mark Holcomb of DwellStudio, Rod Winterrowd, Meredith Waga Perez for Belle Fleur, Deborah Buck for Buck House, Emily Weaver-Pinon for Chestnuts in the Tuileries, David Beahm, David Scott, David Kleinberg, Joanne DePalma, Jamie Drake, Eric Cohler, Ingrid Edelman for Gay Hackett, Philip Gorrivan, Harry Heissmann of Albert Hadley Inc., Joan McGivern for McCluskey, Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman, Marco Maccioni for Le Cirque, Oscar de la Renta Home, Patrik Lönn, Claire Potter and Christopher Spitzmiller, Dennis Rolland for John Rosselli, Roric Tobin for Geoffrey Bradfield, Alan Wanzenberg, Bridget Vizoso, Jodi Zimmerman, Kevin Jude Murphy, Noel Jeffrey with Andrea Stark, Philip Haight for Fiori LTD., Steinitz, Worth Interiors, Scott Snyder,and Antony Todd. Among the guests: Anne Slater, Martin Gruss, Charlotte Moss, Robert Rufino, Muffie Potter Aston, NYC Department of Homeless Services’ Robert Hess, Lisa Anastos, Mario Buatta, Alison Minton, Michel Cox Witmer, Jill and Bobby Zarin, Sharon Bush, Marc W. Smith, Alexandra Lebenthal and Jay Diamond, Oliver L’Olivier, Barbara and Donald Tober, Cece Cord, Philip Warner, Alexia Hamm andBaird Ryan, sisters Nancy Baker and Tobie Roosevelt, Margo Langenberg, Stephanie Krieger and Brian Stewart, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Alexis Clark, Chappy and Melissa Morris, Dan Ragone, sisters Lara Glazier and Melissa Berkelhammer, Bruce Colley, Peggy Siegal, LuAnn de Lesseps, Debbie Bancroft, Leslie and Andrew Heaney, Tracy Stern, Alexandria Lind andLouis Rose, Lucia Hwong Gordon, Mark Kinsey, Michèle Gerber Klein, Allison and George Brokaw, Kate Schelter, Daniel Urzedo, Lydia Fenet, Gigi Mortimer, Natalie Leeds Leventhal, Jerome and Maria Villalba, Blair Clarke, Ashley McDermott, Ann Rapp, Lief Styles and From The House: Virginia Pitman, Lauren Chiarello andExecutive Director Warren Scharf.

Linda Fargo and Diana Quasha from afternoon Designer Showcase

Oliver L’Olivier, Meg Geslin, and Patrick Lon

Sydney and Stanley Shuman with Sara Ayres

Victoria Lindgren and Robert Rufino

Clockwise from top left: Miles Redd for Oscar de la Renta Home; Ingrid Edelman & Gay Hackett for Gay Hackett, Inc.; Marco Maccioni for Le Cirque; Steinitz; Murphy & Company Florist and Decorators. All tables photographs by Marco Ricca.

Wiggy and Mark Bitter with Marie Apple

Roric Tobin, Ann Rapp, and Mario Buatta

Alexandra Lind Rose and Mary Snow

Tracy Stern

Bobby and Jill Zarin

Linda Fargo for Bergdorf Goodman

Harry Heissmann of Albert Hadley, Inc.

Eva and Brendan Dillon

Alison Minton, Michel Cox Witmer, and Meg Gesln

Philip Gorrivan Design

David Kleinberg

Sharon Bush and Marc W. Smith

Muffie Potter Aston and Cece Cord

Barry Friedberg and Charlotte Moss

Ingrid and Thomas Edelman

Lydia Fenet and Mark Gilbertson

Hunt Slonem

Alexis Clark and Gillian Miniter

Dan Ragone, Lisa Anastos, and Daniel Urzedo

Lief Stiles, Jamie Drake, and Lucia Hwong Gordon

Tobie Roosevelt and Nancy Baker

Frances Beatty Adler, Angel Sanchez, Audrey Gruss, and Kathy Angele

Harry Heissmann and Amy Lau

Alison Mazzola was feted last week at a birthday party in her honor at Swifty's.

The back room at Swifty's

The birthday menu

Alex Papachristidis and Scott Nelson

George Farias, Maria Mazzacaro Conlan, John Mazzola, and Richard.

Alison Mazzola, Harry Slatkin, and Anne Hearst McInerny

Victoria Amory and Orli Ben-Dor

Annemarie Iverson and Dominique Browning

George Buxton, Bettina Zilkha, Andrea Robinson, and Jamie Figg

Jeanne Lawrence, Dominique Browning, and Bettina Zilkha

Jay McInerney, Anne Hearst McInerney, and John Cantrell

Alison Mazzola, Sylvia Mazzola, John Mazzola, and Amy Mazzola Flynn

Dominique Browning and Laura Slatkin

The first annual All Stars “Bridge Building” Award for Leadership in Community Relations was presented to Howard Teich, Esq. at the All Stars National Gala Benefit last month at Lincoln Center.   Dr. Elouise Joseph, Doug Drummond, Joyce Dattner, and Drew Williamson Mr. Teich has taken a leading role in intergroup relations, building and maintaining bridges between the black and Jewish communities in New York.  The Gala also honored three generous philanthropists – James J. Burke, Jr. of Stonington Partners; John P. Singer of ART Advisors LLC; and Richard Sokolow of Elliott Management Corp. for their extraordinary commitment to and support for the All Stars. At the gala, the All Stars announced new initiatives to promote understanding and harmony between black and Jewish youth through interactive projects and dialogue. The All Stars was founded 27 years ago, largely by people from the African American and Jewish communities to build on that strong tradition, by partnering with several prominent Jewish organizations to create understanding and shared experiences between the next generation of black and Jewish young people.

John P. Singer, Howard Teich, Esq., Jazz Drill Team, Access Granted, Anysa Islam, Chi-town Boys, Richard Sokolow, and James J. Burke, Jr.

Founded in 1981, the non-profit All Stars creates outside of school, educational and performing arts activities for over ten thousand poor and minority young people nationwide. It is a privately funded partnership between caring professional adults and young people growing up in poor communities.

Front row: Dennis Swanson, Mark Jaffe, Thomas Acosta, Zari Pope. Back row: Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Robert Johnson, Neshama Carelbach, Reb Simon Jacobson, Howard Teich, Esq., and Martin Begun.

The All Stars performing arts and development center on W. 42nd Street serves as its national headquarters. In addition to New York City, the All Stars Project sponsors programs in Chicago, IL, Newark, NJ, and the Bay Area in California. All Stars is also produced by local organizations in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, and internationally in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The All Stars sponsors the Castillo Theatre and four youth development programs for inner-city youth – the All Stars Talent Show Network, the Development School for Youth, Youth Onstage! and the Production of Youth by Youth.

Christopher Street, Anysa Islam, Doug Drummond, and Dr. Elouise Joseph

John P. Singer, Howard Teich, Esq., Gabrielle Kurlander, and James J. Burke, Jr.

Daphne Rubin-Vega and Lil Mama

Arthur Stern, Frank La Pera, Gloria Strickland, Nathaniel Christian, Bonny Gildin, and Steve Alesio

Richard Sokolow, Wilfredo Ortiz, John P. Singer, Snigdha Sarkar, James J. Burke, Jr., and Emily Munguia

Vicki Mabrey

Steve Alesio

James J. Burke, Jr., Gabrielle L. Kurlander, Howard Teich, Esq., Gloria Strickland, and youth from Project Kavod

Photographs by © AMNH/ C.Chesek & D. Finnin; Cutty McGill (Mazzolla); ©Patrick McMullan (Lenox Hill).

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