Pat and Bill Follett

Last month, Lighthouse International hosted "My Favorite Things," featuring a silent and live auction of more than 100 one-of-a-kind items. Mimi Sheraton served as honorary chair and Eric Widing of Christie's as auctioneer. Highlights of the evening included a wine tasting from many renowned vineyards and tastings from the celebrated chefs of Amuse, Aureole, Barbetta, Django, Fiamma Osteria, Ian Restaurant, Payard New York and Manhasset, Toa, and Tse Yang.

Proceeds from "My Favorite Things" will help support Lighthouse International's Music School, which has since its founding in 1913, provided quality music instruction, performance opportunities, and rehabilitation to thousands of New Yorkers who are blind or visually impaired; and VisionConnection, a friendly, accessible, interactive global Internet portal for people who are partially sighted or blind, the professionals who work with them, the families, and friends who support them — and anyone looking for the latest information on vision impairment, its prevention and vision rehabilitation. Lighthouse International is a leading resource worldwide on vision impairment and vision rehabilitation. With locations throughout the metropolitan area, the Lighthouse serves thousands of local area residents each year.

Santa Claus parked his sleigh on Fifth Avenue in front of the Sherry Netherland Hotel and swooped down the famous red staircase into Doubles, much to the delight and thrill of the club’s youngest members, as well as their families who accommodatingly donned Santa hats, reindeer antlers and flashing Rudolph noses for the occasion.

The posh private club for New York’s elite was magically transformed into a wonderland for the holidays, the perfect spot for the little ones to tell Santa just what he or she really wanted for Christmas. After that it was a dash off to do the Hokey Pokey and “turn yourself around” on the disco floor. Right foot in, left foot in, and that’s what it was all about.

There was Chicken McDoubles, some of the best macaroni and cheese on record, plus cookies and milk. There were garlands and fir trees, with ribbons, tinsel and hundreds of gleaming lights everywhere, causing visions of sugarplums to dance in their little heads. Among the gang to be visited by Santa were Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos with Sophia, Nicholas and Peter and their grandmother Alice Kanavos; Bentley Meeker, Lara and Alexandra Glazier and Melissa Berkelhammer; Linda Robinson, Rebecca and Davis Silver; Joseph, Mireya and Sofia D’Angelo, Tami Cargiulo; Cameron, Jack and Audrey Maciel; Alison, Rick and Katherine Vella; Susan Krysiewicz with Aubrienne, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter with Quint and Serena, Will, Charlie, Alison, Christine and Milton Pappas; Elizabeth and Lucy Reid; Mark, Olivia and Edna Cowen; Ana Maria Perez with Daniela and Andres; Simone Levenson; Nina Shapiro; Caroline and Julia Coxford; Elizabeth Reid; and Mark Wallace.

“And a ho ho ho,” Santa said or at least Wendy Carduner, who was the real maestro behind all the fun, said he said it.

Brooke Brothers and Vanity Fair hosted an evening of cocktails, jazz, and holiday shopping. The event benefited New Yorkers for Children, an organization that improves the lives of children and families who are served by the Administration for Children's Services. NYFC accomplishes this by providing the private resources needed to assist ACS and to increase awareness of child welfare issues. Several friends of NYFC were in attendance including Nicholas Scoppetta and Susan Burden.

Nicole and Merrill Hanley

The Young New Yorkers for the Philharmonic comprises people aged 21-40 who appreciate and support the New York Philharmonic and symphonic music. The Young New Yorkers enjoy unique opportunities to attend concerts as well as social and educational events in the company of friends, supporting one of the city's most valuable cultural resources. Founded in 1994, the group includes over 3,500 members.

On December 2nd, the Young New Yorkers enjoyed their annual fall benefit, "A Night on the Town XI." The evening began with a concert conducted by David Robertson and featured violinist Christian Tetzlaff. A gala dinner dance followed.

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