A cold but sunny Sunday in NY
Walking east along Houston Street. 3:00 PM. Photo: JH.



NYU's 2nd Annual Progress in Psychiatry Gala
Michele Herbert and Sale Johnson
Arlene Dahl and Marty Richards
Carmen del Orefice
 The Oscar-themed party season got off to an early start last Monday night, when NYU honored 2003 Oscar-winning producer Marty Richards, with its 2nd Annual Progress in Psychiatry Gala.

With six Oscars, 36 Tony’s, The Pulitzer Prize and innumerable awards for philanthropy, Marty is no stranger to Gala events. Monday’s festivities at Capitale were hosted by NYC social and charity stalwart Michele Herbert who introduced Dinner Chairman Dr. Robert Cancro, Director of the Mental Illness Prevention Center and Chairman of Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. Stage and screen legend, Arlene Dahl, presented Marty with his award followed by a fun and stirring video history of Marty’s extraordinary accomplishments.
Leba and Neil Sedaka, Lauren Vernon, and Maria Theresa Fauci
Among the 450 in attendance were Somers and Jonathan Farkas, Leba and Neil Sedaka, legendary beauty Carmen and Art Garfunkel with his beautiful blond wife Kim (who could be the next Roxie Hart – Broadway take note). The fab five's fashion guru, Carson Kressley, was auctioned off to the highest bidder (the lucky Michele Herbert) for a 2-hour shopping spree and his colleague Ted Allen (the food guy) traded taste for health tips with some of New York’s most prominent physicians. Thanks to the high-energy Stingers, the dance floor was still packed at midnight. Every guest left with a packed goody bag and a small gold Oscar of their own – the foil-wrapped chocolate kind!
L. to r.: Kim Garfunkel; Jonathan and Somers Farkas; MIPC ice sculpture.
Nino Pepicelli, Carmen, and Carson Kressely
Arlene Dahl and Marc Rosen



Ferragamo held its “Love affair with shoes” exhibition


Courtney B. Vance and Massimo Ferragamo
Also on Monday night last, Ferragamo held its "Love affair with shoes" exhibition at its flagship Fifth avenue store. With a diverse and very talkative crowd, the party was surprisingly good for a Monday night event.

Notable among the well-heeled attendees: Susan Shin, Lee Martins, Annie Churchill, Olivia Chantecaille, Gretchen Mol, Curtney B. Vance, Robert Verde, and Sarah Siegel Magness. As is often the case, business finds its way into social settings and I listened as Massimo and Courtney B. Vance brainstormed over a plan to outfit the entire cast of "Law and Order" with Ferragamo footwear. Points of contention: how many perpetrators would now escape a foot pursuit due to broken heels? Will " New York's Finest" take on new meaning? And most worrisome - how long before they receive a vist from "Queer eye for the straight guy"?

— Prendergast
L. to r.: Fabian Basabe, Massimo Ferragamo, Olivia Chantecaille, and Robert Verdi; Gretchen Ferragamo; Fabian Basabe and Annie Churchill; Massimo Ferragamo and Sarah Siegel Magness.



Dennis Basso celebrated his 50th birthday at Club Colette in Palm Beach
Michael Cominotto, Patti Labelle, and Dennis Basso
Bridgett Rooney and Bill Koch
In a room decorated with white roses, orchids and Casblanca lilies, 180 of Dennis Basso’s dearest and nearest gathered for a black tie dinner dance hosted by Michael Cominotto at Club Colette in Palm Beach to celebrate his 50th birthday. There was a troupe of samba dancers in full feather headdresses (and very little else) greeting the guests. There was so much jewelry in the room that they had to hire four extra security guards to keep a watchful eye out for the ladies with the sparkle.

After the cutting of the birthday cake, Patti LaBelle sang “Lady Marmalade” and Neil Sedaka sent a surprise to make up for his and Leba’s absence: a CD of him singing “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” with words he had written especially for Dennis (and now titled “I Love You, Dennis B.”

Among the starry crowd: Nina Griscom and Leonel Piraino, Tom Quick, Bettina Zilkha, Brett Price, Kathy and Rick Hilton, Bill Koch and Bridget Rooney, Maria Teresa Fauci, Denise and Larry Wohl, Della Rounick, Michele and Larry Herbert, Marjorie and Reza Raein, Ivana Trump and Rosano Rubicondi, Greg Connors, Joy Rosenthal, Donald Burns, Caroline Hirsh and Andrew Fox, Andrew Saffir and Daniel Benedict, and Nurit and Werner Haase.
Daniel Benedict, Bettina Zilkha, and Andrew Saffir
Larry and Michele Herbert
Ivana Trump and Rosano Rubicondi
Mario Nievera, Beth Rudin, and Robert Janjigian
Nina Griscom and Leonel Piraino
Caroline Hirsch and Andrew Fox
Dan Ponton, Joy Rosenthal, and Dennis Basso



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© 2006 David Patrick Columbia & Jeffrey Hirsch/NewYorkSocialDiary.com