On Saturday, July 21, LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton held its annual Celebrates Brooklyn summer benefit gala, where they honored Dustin Yellin of Pioneer Works and Joe Melillo of BAM. The evening was a tour de force of sensory stimulation and one of the best parties of the summer for more than 500 guests. The dunes of Longhouse became Yves Klein Blue while smudge cleansing totems burned in massive floral displays and abalone shells. The cocktail featured trestle tables of grilled vegetables and artisanal cheeses as well as tempting barbeque pits.
The silent auction showed more than 60 artists including Lynda Benglis, Dale Chihuly, Orly Genger, Helmut Lang, Robert Longo, Bryan Hunt, Robert Longo, Larry Rivers, Robert Rosenkranz, Toni Ross, Cindy Sherman, Kiki Smith, Bert Stern, Johnny Swing, Robert Wilson and Dustin Yellin.
“This is the greatest evening ever at Longhouse,” said LongHouse founder Jack Lenor Larson at the start of dinner. “We’re honoring Brooklyn because there’s so much excitement there. It’s where everyone youthful wants to live and with good reason.” David Lang then presented Joe Melillo with the LongHouse Art Leadership Award, while Dr. Janna Levin presented Dustin Yellin with the LongHouse Award. This year’s four LongHouse Scholars were announced. Musicians from both Revel in Dimes and The High & Mighty Brass Band played through the night. The benefit also allowed patrons to view the new LongHouse art installations which included two rocket sculptures by Dustin Yellin, an installation by Helmut Lang as well as Alyson Shotz.
Guests, dressed in shimmering shades of blue, included: Alice Aycock, Dianne Benson, Steve and Sue Felsher, Brian and Joanna Fisher, Peter Olsen, Dorothy Lichtenstein, Fern Mallis, Mary Jane Marcasiano, Alexandra Munroe, Ralph Pucci, Cindy Sherman, Barbara Slifka, Jill Stuart, Matko Tomicic, Wendy Van Deusen, Arden Wohl and Robert Wilson.
A couple weeks ago, close to 1200 people attended Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts 50th Anniversary Gala. Held in a tent on the Camp’s beautiful 140-acre wooded campus in Wheatley Heights on Long Island, it was the most successful Usdan fundraiser to date — earning close to $200,000 for scholarships and programming at the creative and performing arts camp.
The event began an open-air exhibition of camper artwork and a concert with many of the students showcasing the skills developed over the 2018 Season. The show was capped off by performance featuring Usdan choral alumni and students performing together — conducted by beloved retired faculty member Elaine Gates.
At the 300 person sit-down dinner that followed, over 50 people in total were acknowledged for their long-term commitment to Usdan. The evening honorees were: Elaine Panik Gates; Pattie Panik Falber; Heather Bifulco; Michelle, Megan and Amanda Marino; The Incorvaia Family; The Keenan Family; Erica Kuhn (In Memoriam); The Leeds Family; The Lehman – DiMartino Family; Debra and Dale Lewis; Andrew McKinley (In Memoriam); Dr. Jerrold Ross; The Schaeffler Family; The Schecher Family; and the UJA – Federation of New York.
VIPs including philanthropists Jennifer Allen Soros; John and Eva Usdan; Russell and Marilyn Albanese; Angela Jaggar; Raoul and Marjorie Bhavnani; Rosemarie Klipper; Esme Usdan and James Snyder; Samantha Gold, Shari Goodhartz; Scott Brennan and Amanda Fugazy, William Kramer, Lillian Cohen; Dr. Jerrold Ross; Katie Clark; Dale Lewis (Usdan Executive Director Emeritus / current Director of Long Island Arts Alliance); Jordan Leeds; Brianna Perez (violinist/star of Joe’s Violin); Steven Schopp (Executive Director, New York State School Music Association); Dr. Marian Conway (New York Community Bank Foundation); Jeff Schoenfeld (President, UJA Federation); Eric Goldstein (CEO, UJA Federation); the Gala Co-Chairs Michele Lowe (award-winning playwright/screenwriter) and Lesley Friedman Rosenthal (COO and Corporate Secretary for The Juilliard School); as well as Usdan’s Executive Director Lauren Brandt Schloss.
Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts (http://www.usdan.org) offers approximately 100 programs in music, dance, theater, visual arts, creative writing, nature, recreation and chess, annually hosting nearly 1,600 students from towns throughout Long Island and the New York City metro area. Open to all young people from age 4 to 18, no audition is needed for most courses, and transportation is provided in air-conditioned buses that depart from most New York-area neighborhoods.
The 14th Annual Hamptons Happening celebrated the achievements and charitable contributions benefitting the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) at Kenneth and Maria Fishel’s Bridgehampton estate. Hosting the most anticipated summer benefit was CBS 2 co-anchor Chris Wragge who helped honor leading industry visionaries including: Chef Honoree Matt Lambert, Executive Chef & Co-owner of The Musket Room and Michelin Star Recipient; Fashion Honoree Ramy Brook Sharp, Founder & Creative Director of Ramy Brook; and Business Honoree Joe Farrell, Founder & President of Farrell Building Company.
The Hamptons Happening drew more than 300 distinguished guests in celebration of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation’s international efforts to cure cancer. Calling to action the members of the audience, emcee Chris Wragge asked those who have been affected by the disease to raise their hands. The wave of hands emphasized the heartfelt connection between both supporters and collaborators that further tied them to the cause Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Samuel Waxman has dedicated his entire career.
Taking the stage, Samuel Waxman, M.D. joined Chris Wragge to graciously present awards to the honorees and event hosts who included the East End’s most sought-after home developer, Joe Farrell, leading contemporary womenswear founder and creative director of Ramy Brook, Ramy Brook Sharp, and Michelin-star Executive Chef Matt Lambert of the Musket Room. Philanthropist family Kenneth and Maria Fishel, accompanied by their children Melissa and Bradley, have hosted the Hamptons Happening at their 15-acre Bridgehampton residence for four successive years. Maria Fishel accepted a bouquet of white roses, on behalf of her family, for their reputable dedication in the fight against cancer. The Fishels reciprocated with an additional $10,000 donation towards the Foundation.
Facilitated by auctioneer Duncan Shieb, the live auction led to a spirited bidding war for a selection of thoughtfully curated auction items. A Rosewood Fairmont Resorts package auctioned for $8,000 brought additional philanthropic support to the Foundation. A dinner and wine pairing for eight at The Musket Room was secured by a final bid of $5,000. Also, a hands-on internship experience at the Ramy Brook store was secured by another auction participant. Two bidders secured tee times for four players at Robert Rubin’s exclusive The Bridge Golf Club. Lastly, a “Passport” Vacation auction item with more than 20 travel destinations to choose from went to a very lucky winner.
Every year, The Hamptons Happening is among the most eagerly awaited events of the Hamptons summer 2018 social calendar. The benefit is a scrumptious celebration of New York’s finest cuisine, personally presented by 20 of the top chefs of the most celebrated restaurants in New York City and the Hamptons. Guests indulged their appetites for the savory and the sweet, mixed and mingled, bid on exciting live and silent auction items and danced to world renowned bluegrass band Sheriff and The Deputy all the while collaborating to fund the quest for a cure for cancer.Performers from The National Circus Project returned to The Hamptons Happening for a third year to delight attendees with their whimsical presence and magic tricks.
The event’s producer was Robin Lathrop of ByRobin and Untouchable Events donated a DJ and photo booth.
The 14th Annual Hamptons Happening was chaired by Event Co-Founder Marion N. Waxman, Sponsorship Chair Karen Amster-Young and Journal Chair Erica Linden-Fineberg. The Hamptons Happening committee members included Chris Arlotta, Ellen Antonucci, Jordan Brail, Maria Fishel, Barbara Lambert, Jessica Mackin, Laurie Schaffran, Jake Taub, and Erin Woudsma.
Notable attendees included: Dr. Samuel Waxman, Marion Waxman, Chris and Sarah Wragge, Kenneth and Maria Fishel, Chef Matt Lambert, Ramy Brook Sharp, Robert Sharp, Joe Farrell, Michael Nierenberg, Elin Nierenberg, Laurie L. Schaffran, James E. Frankel, Jill Frankel, Lewis and Wendy Rubin, Wendy Rubin, Howard Shlafmitz, Natali Yura, Marc Taub, Sheriff and The Deputy, Marc Leder, Brian Waterman, Debby Hymowitz, Rique Uresti, William T. Sullivan, Robin Lathrop, Jesse Dean, Rachel Kramer, Karen Amster-Young, Benjamin Young, Erica Fineberg, Chris Arlotta, Barbara Lambert, Jessica Mackin, Jake Taub, Marc Taub, Duncan Shiek, Andrea Fornarola, Ian Duke, Scott Kampf, Jean Shafiroff, Ricky and Dianna Passarelli.
Sponsors and event partners included: AmTrust Title, Bridgehampton National Bank, Farrell Building Company, J.P. Morgan Private Banking, Palm Bay International, Sun Capital Partners, ByRobin, The Independent, with Hampton Luxury Liner as the Transportation Sponsor, and Hamptons Magazine as the Media Sponsor. Participating restaurants, chefs and spirits brands included: Union Cantina, 21 Club, Backyard Brine Pickle Company, Centro Trattoria & Bar, Clarkson Ave. Crumb Cakes, Eataly, Great Performances Catering, Golden Pear Café, Insatiable EATS Catering & Event Specialists, Haas Brothers Tequila, Magnolia Bakery, MarieBelle Chocolates, The Musket Room, Montauk Hard Label Whiskey, Saaz Indian Restaurant, Seafood Shoppe, Simple Vodka, South Fork Bakery, Union League Club, and Woops! Macarons.
Photographs by Patrick McMullan (Longhouse); Lafiya Watson Ramirez, Jonas Gustavsson, Eugene Gologursky/Getty (Usdan); Rob Rich & Patrick McMullan (Waxman)
