Party Pictures 7/7/04 - Museum of Arts & Design Sofa New York 2004 Gala Benefit Preview, The Week presents the Grand Classics screening of The World of Apu

Museum of Arts & Design Sofa New York 2004 Gala Benefit Preview

L. to r.: Paolo Martini, Lillian Vernon, Barbara Tober, and Sarah and Seth Glickenhaus; Marcia Levine, Paul Levai, and Barbara Tober.

The gala opening night preview of SOFA NEW YORK 2004, the International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art, was held on June 2, at the Seventh Regiment Armory benefiting for the 7th consecutive year, the Museum of Arts & Design and its exhibitions and public programs.

SOFA NEW YORK, which draws more than 12,000 visitors each year, is widely considered to be a defining event in the decorative and fine arts world. The New York Times has called the SOFA NEW YORK expositions, “a stunning array of art ... known for reflecting and setting cutting-edge design trends.” For more information, visit: www.sofaexpo.com.

The opening night also inaugurated the Third Annual Contemporary Decorative Arts Week: Bringing Art to Life. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg again officially proclaimed Contemporary Decorative Arts Week to be a weeklong, citywide celebration of the New York's vibrant contemporary decorative arts and design scene, showcasing dozens of exhibitions at New York museums, auction houses, art galleries and organizations.

This year, SOFA NEW YORK featured more than 50 of the world’s finest galleries and dealers presenting works by more than a thousand artists that bridge craft and the decorative and fine arts. The theme was “A Taste of New York,” with the creations of some of New York’s greatest chefs and personalities.

Chairs for the benefit were Sandra Grotta and Jack Lenor Larsen.

Visit the Museum online: www.madmuseum.org

L. to r.: Arlene and Harvey Caplan; Museum Director Holly Hotchner, Mark Lyman, SOFA founder and president, Nanette Laitman, Barbara Tober, and Susan Chin.

Suzanne and Norman Cohn

Sarah and Seth Glickenhaus

Lisa and Harry Elson

Kara Ross

Sandra Grotta

Artist Paul Stankard

Mimi Livingston

Photographs by Eric Weiss

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The Week presents the Grand Classics screening of The World of Apu, hosted by Ismail Merchant at Soho House, sponsored by Marika, Stoli and USA

Andrew Saffir, Katrina Pavlos, Daniel Benedict, and Vanessa Wingate

Phoebe Gubelmann

Leslie Stevens

Behnaz Sarafpour

Indyssey Entertainment’s Grand Classics series proudly featured award winning director and producer Ismail Merchant, who presented one of his favorite films, The World of Apu, by Lifetime Achievement Oscar winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

Ismail Merchant

Ismail told the audience of movers and shakers at Soho House “Satyajit Ray is one of the masters of our time - his work connects the heart and the minds. These films were made almost 60 years ago, but still have enormous power. The characters are so rich and so beautiful.”

“Satyajit Ray gave us a guiding light in our lives - he has been our mentor. He promoted the idea of young filmmakers coming into the foray. He is such a humble man - his name is listed in the phonebook, unlike Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola! James [Ivory] called him years ago, and told Ray ‘I am a student of film’ and Ray invited him for a cup of coffee in Calcutta. Our relationship has gone on now for 42 years."

"The power of cinema moves the minds and the hearts. I had never seen a Ray film in India, until I came here to study at NYU. I cried and said this is the kind of film I want to do.

Among those riveted by Ismail and his favorite film at this powerful and moving evening, sponsored by super-hip newsmag The Week, Stoli and cool fitness company Marika, were Rosie Perez (a past Grand Classics host), Helena Christensen, Jacob Johanson, actress Sarita Choudhury ("Mississippi Masala", "A Perfect Murder"), actress Natasha Lyonne, Daniel Benedict, Coco Brandolini, Isabella Rattazzi, Matthew Modine, Olivia Chantecaille and Eric Villency, Leslie Stevens, Jeffrey Slonim, designer Behnaz Sarafpour, hotelier Vikram Chatwal, Phoebe Gubelmann, Marika CEO Donald Schumacher, The Week’s Carolyn Kremins and Justin Smith, and Indyssey Entertainment execs Katrina Pavlos, Vanessa Wingate, and Andrew Saffir.

The Grand Classics evenings benefit the American Film Institute.

Rosie Perez and Helena Christiansen

Coco Brandolini and Isabella Rattazzi

Don Schumacher

Rosie Perez and Sarita Choudhury

Eric Villency and Olivia Chantecaille

Liz Lind and Sam Bolton

Justin Smith and Katrina Pavlos

Photographs by Nick Papananias/PMc

Central Park Conservancy teamed up with Mikimoto to honor “The Pearls of the Park”

Sheila Labracque, Joe Missett, and Nancy Missett

Robin Joseph and Ken Joseph

Marjorie Fortgang, Cece Black, and Betsy Messerschmett

Karen and Richard LeFrak

Mikimoto opened its fifth avenue doors to honor “The Pearls of the Park”, the past presidents of the Central Park Conservancy’s Women’s Committee.

Mikimoto and Karen LeFrak, president of the Women’s Committee, co-hosted the cocktail reception in honor of the women who have donated their time to raise funds for the preservation of Central Park. Mikimoto made a generous cash donation to the Central Park Conservancy. And as an exclusive offer to the Women’s Committee, an additional donation is made for every purchase from the Cherry Blossom collection.