Hats Off!

Amongst a sea of hats at the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy's 26th Annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon. 12:00 PM. Photo: JH.

Yesterday in New York, a warm and sunny day in May, the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy held its 26th Annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon in the Conservatory Garden behind the Vanderbilt gates in the Park at 104th Street and Fifth Avenue.

This is the now famous annual “hat luncheon” where approximately 80% of the 1000 women attending put on their millinery finest and parade like the old days of Easter. This is the milliner’s day in New York. It’s fun, and funny, and amusing. The millinery concoctions are beautiful, wild and crazy, eccentric, chic and inventive.

People start arriving at 11 a.m. and about an hour later, the party major domos begin directing the colorful crowd down the garden lanes to the entrance to the luncheon tent.

Mayor Bloomberg who personally has been a major supporter of the Conservancy over the years, was one of the first speakers. As it is with almost all crowds today, no matter who they are, no matter their age, they never stop talking. In other words, they never shut up. So much so that the mayor was reminded (and said so) of his days in high school when none of the girls “listened” to him and “they still don’t.” However, aside from that gentle nudge (which was ignored), he just went along with it, giving his brief speech and removing himself.

Margaret and Ian Smith, Nancy Paduano, and Mayor Bloomberg

This year the event brought it more than $2.4 million. They honored Nancy Paduano, the President of the Women’s Committee from 2005 to 2007. She led an initiative raising $2 million to restore the eight decorative cast-iron urns at Bow Bridge. She and her husband Dan also funded the restoration of the Osborn Gates.

They also honored Margaret and Ian Smith who are longtime friends and supporters of the Conservancy. Over the years their generosity has funded or contributed to the funding of many Park projects and restorations.

The Central Park Conservancy’s Women’s Committee was founded twenty-six years ago by Mrs. Howard Clark, Mrs. Charles A. Dana, Mrs. Richard Purnell, and Mrs. Phyllis Cerf Wagner. The Committee is responsible for raising money for specific parts of the Park and also for the needed operating expenses. Currently they are responsible for more than 20 percent of the Conservancy’s annual $27 million budget.

Betsy Barlow Rogers

Betsy Messerschmidt

Norma Dana

The Founding women were very effective in building a constituency of succeeding volunteers who have made the CPC one of the most successful and prestigious philanthropies in New York. As Mayor Bloomberg reminded yesterday, there was a time, thirty or so years ago, when the Park was not nearly as popular for use, nor as impeccably maintained as it is today. The Women’s Committee has played a major role in this transformation.

However, that said, the highlight of the day, aside from the wonderful luncheon and the fellowship that fills the tent, are the hats. Our cameras were busy. JH created a video of the event and between us we took about 200 photographs of the guests and their chapeaux which we are running today and tomorrow on the Diary and Party Pictures.

It should also be noted that next week, New York Social Diary will participate in some of its own fund-raising for the Central Park Conservancy. Beginning on May 16th at the Chinese Porcelain Company (475 Park Avenue at 58th Street), we will be offering approximately 40 different images (in signed series of ten) of Jeff Hirsch’s Diary lead pictures of New York. They will be on exhibition and available for purchase through Monday, May 19th.

All proceeds of the sale will go to the Central Park Conservancy. It is our hope to raise a substantial contribution to the Conservancy and so we are asking NYSD readers to participate. The photographs may also be purchased through NewYorkSocialDiary.com beginning Friday, the 16th of May.

Last night in New York. Lots going on. I made it first over to Graff, who in partnership with their next door neighbors J. Mendel, was holding a cocktail kick-off for the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House’s 6th annual Kids in Playland Benefit on Monday May 19th from 4 to 6:30 pm on the Children’s Playroof of the LHNH at 331 East 70th Street. Proceeds from this event will benefit Children’s Programs at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House.

Kathy Angele and Henri Barguirdjian

Kathy Angele and Warren Scharf

Modeling J. Mendel

Lara Glazier, Jessica Nagel, Kelly Mallon, and Melissa Berkelhammer

From Graff, I went down the avenue to the St. Regis where the American Cancer Society of New York was holding its annual Celebration of Life Dinner Dance this year honoring Diana Feldman.

Mrs. Feldman has been very active in the ACS ever since her beloved mother died of cancer more than 20 years ago. She has since lost one of her sisters and two of her dearest friends from the disease.

Last night’s award was presented to her by her husband Richard. Bob Hardwick and his Orchestra played for dancing, and Ann Hampton Calloway entertained. This was an especially happy event as entertaining Diana is a recipe for laughter (hers as well as everyone else’s), which we’ll tell you more about when we have time to run a good amount of pictures from the happy event at the beginning of next week.

Friends and family honor Diana Feldman at the American Cancer Society gala last night at the St. Regis ...