Springtime in New York no matter the calendar

A blue sky over the Hudson. 5:45 PM. Photo: JH.

March 17, 2010. And a Happy St. Paddy’s Day to you my friend. It is Springtime in New York no matter the calendar. Yesterday was coat and tie weather and the Sun was shining and life was a good thing. You could feel it. Vitamin D for all.

First things first. Bon vivant, international journalist, art critic, author, actor, artist and such, a true modern Renaissance man, Anthony Haden-Guest according to Richard Johnson on Page Six, has lost about $1 million in personal property that he’d stored in public storage (what the Brits call Lock-ups).

A couple of years ago when he moved back to London from permanent residence in here in New York (he lived on East 80th between Park and Madison, boy, if those walls could talk oh what tales they could tell!), he put his belongings in storage. His million dollar belongings in storage.


	Anthony Haden-Guest

Evidently somewhere along the way he lost touch with the monthly invoices and didn’t make a couple of payments or was late or something in between. So the storage company SOLD his belongings. SOLD THEM. A man’s whole life including more than 100 works of art including pieces by Donald Baechler, David Salle and Ashley Bickerton, a Barbados-born contemporary artist.

“I have been kidnapped in Lebanon,” he told the daily rag. “I have been stabbed 50 times in my apartment (ed’s note: see, I told you)! But this is the worst thing that has happened to me.”

And there is an aroma here that isn’t lilies of the valley.”

Spoken like the true poet of life that he is. Lilies of the valley. I guess not.

Anthony grew up the illegitimate son of an aristo. His mother was Not Like Anybody Else’s Mother. Read and see [1] for yourself: Anthony is a voyager in life. He too is not like anybody else. A charming, pleasant, erudite, elegant bull in life’s china shop. He’s always had to pay his way and he’s done it steadily and successfully for decades as a journalist/author, etc. while living as an epicurean. He’s never been a materialistic chap, but rather an intensely interested traveler on this bus. It’s terrible that the storage company actually sold the man’s valuable belongings.

But I’ve been down the storage road of life, as have a lot of us. Maybe now more than ever. I have a couple friends who are still on it and not far from a ditch.

One of the two cocktail receptions at the Waldorf last night before the New York City Police Foundation dinner.

Last night I put on a black tie for the first time in about three weeks, and went down to the Waldorf where The New York City Police Foundation was holding its 32nd Annual Gala. Honorary Chair was Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Honorees were Gail and Carl Icahn. Gala Chairs were Tina Brown and Sir Harold Evans, Martha and Rich Handler, Tommy and Thalia Mottola, Lizanne and Barry Rosenstein. Hosts were Michael Douglas, Charlie Rose, Sharon Stone, and there was a guest performance by Marc Anthony.

I hadn’t been to this particular benefit before. Or if I have (having been to hundreds of benefits over the years), I don’t recall it. I point that out because I went with no expectations. A police foundation benefit doesn’t sound all that sexy now, does it?

I got there well into the cocktail hour and made my way through the crowds in two different reception galleries looking for photo ops. I came upon Georgette Mosbacher and Nancy Silverman. First shot of the evening. And last in those two rooms: I couldn’t find anyone I recognized.

However, in the Grand Ballroom, I was talking with Candace Leeds, the public relations executive from the Tisch family’s Loews Corporation when I stood up, turned half way around to look for more photo ops, when the young blonde seated at table twelve feet away smiled at me and said: “Hello!”

The ballroom just as the guests were entering to take their seats.

The tables. The starter on the plates was Jumbo Crab, Edamame, and Shitake Mushrooms with Miso Dressing. The entree was Crispy Orange Chicken a l'Orient with Baby Bok Choy with Pickled Ginger and Steamed Shrimp Dumplings and Orange Soy Sauce.

So I went over and introduced myself and she said her name and I couldn’t hear her because of the din of the hundreds of guests entering the dining room. So I asked her to repeat her name. “Sharon Stone,” she said.

DUH.

I must say, she looked too young to be Sharon Stone. I know Sharon Stone’s not “old,” but this lady looked like Michael Douglas’ very young date.

So we chatted about LA where she lives in Beverly Hills. She’s in New York working on a “Law and Order.” I suggested (unsolicited, mind you) that she move back here with her kids and become a citizen of this great city. I told her I have always believed that the best way a Hollywood star can keep his or her star power is to leave L.A. and move to New York where you can be a star forever.

The great NYPD band playing before the dinner.

In the meantime Sharon Stone lives very comfortably in the hills of Beverly under those gorgeous Southern California skies. We also talked about where she was from: Meadville PA. I told her that one college summertime I worked in a college roommate’s father’s baking plant in Erie, PA. They used to call it “the mistake by the lake.” But they had a good time out there and it was sweet in summer.

I realized that I just wanted to stand there leaning over and talking to her while trying to act like it was nothing. Which it was not. It was a little like being in the movie. With Sharon Stone. When I said good-bye, I turned away and there before me were four guys staring at her with big grins on their faces. I kid you not. You wudda been too.

Her seat was next to Harry Evans. The New York City Police Foundation raises money to augment police projects and programs that aren’t funded by the government. Since it was founded in 1971, the NYC Police Foundation has invested $100 million in 400 innovative NYPD programs.

The Foundation is the first of its kind in America (and now serves as a model for municipal police departments across the nation). It does not raise its funds through telephone or telemarketing solicitation. It supports NYPD programs in two main areas: 1. Projects, research studies, and equipment to improve the effectiveness of police; and 2. Education, training and skill development to strengthen the partnership between the police and the public.

Michael Douglas.

The Hollywood Star.

New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

Commissioner Kelly reads the tribute to the honorees, Carl and Gail Icahn.

The Commissioner indicating that he had a special gift for the couple.

An NYPD black jersey jacket.

I didn’t know about all this, so I’m behind the times. Because a lot of people do. Last night at the Waldorf, they filled the enormous room with tables as well as boxes on the first balcony. The NYPD’s band (great band!) was playing as we entered the ballroom. And as we were finding our tables we were serenaded by a man and a woman officer who were really good singers and good performers. Then came the bagpipes (they were getting ready today’s parade).

Michael Douglas opened the evening once guests were seated. Although Douglas is a magnetic presence and a good speaker, he was up against the table talking that begins these dinners. However, he got through it unfettered and unfazed. Then Valerie Salembier, who is on the board of the Foundation, took the podium and told us about the activities of the Foundation. She introduced Charlie Rose who introduced Ray Kelly.

Ray Kelly introduced the honorees, Carl and Gail Icahn. I met her only once a number of years ago when we were seated next to each other at a dinner. She was dating the local tycoon who was getting a divorce at the time. I think they worked together. She made an impression because she was warm and friendly on meeting. Almost a country girl (okay, the suburbs) type, the kind you think might be a friend.

Table 21. Michael Douglas, lower left; Thalia Mottola next to Comm. Kelly, A woman leaning into speak to Harry Evans who has his arm on the back of the chair where Sharon Stone will sit; a slice of Charlie Rose's profile, lower right.

As it happened I never ran into her again until I saw her last night. She’s been Mrs. Icahn for quite some time now and she’s been very active in certain philanthropic activities -- the New York Police Foundation is one of them. She is now very Southern California glamorous. Glamorous like Sharon Stone glamorous. She was definitely camera-ready in a white jersey sheath that doesn’t lie. And a diamond necklace to confirm it.

Mrs. Icahn accepted first. She’s an executive on the matter. Then Mr. took the podium and made himself at home, as they say. He first told us that he’d been asked by his wise wife to keep it to five minutes (which is actually a very long acceptance speech to listen to). Mr. Icahn then went on and on ... and on and on ... with an often very funny anecdote leading to another point to another anecdote. The audience was laughing. I was thinking this guy is a closet standup. Calling Caroline Hirsch! Maybe.
And then he continued with his bemused palaver. I was standing to the right of the stage and watching them in profile. Mrs. Icahn was standing behind him, listening, amused, but finally she reached over and gave his jacket tail a couple of quick tugs. He stopped, and turned around, but went back to his ramble gambol (It was funny, don’t get me wrong ...).

Thalia Mottola, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony.

Veronica Kelly, Thalia Mottola, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony.

Then a few minutes later Mrs. reached over again and tugged. No response. That was funny too. And then a few minutes later she moved to his side and put her hand on his back (thank you Mother). So now you know (I didn’t), the guy has a big personality; big. And a resolute wife. So, finally, the droll tycoon said his goodnight Gracie.

Carl and Gail Icahn are enormous supporters of the Police Foundation and in summing up last night he strongly urged all the wealthy people in the room to put up the money. Gail Icahn said: “We who have the most to give also have the most to gain from our city.”

Marc Anthony performs.

Marc Anthony knockin' em dead.

Ray Kelly then gave the annual Chuck Barris Foundation “Cop of the Year” Award to Sgt. Christopher Newsom, Midtown South Precinct, Anti-Crime Unit.

Then Marc Anthony took the stage. He told us he grew up on 107th and Third Avenue, then known as Spanish Harlem. He recalled the cop on the beat who, when Marc was a kid, looked out for him. And also reminded him to stay out of and away from trouble. He credits that man with protecting him and instilling a certain self-confidence and he honors the Police Foundation to this day because of it. Then he opened with a song he wrote for Jennifer when he was first dating her. If you’re a fan, you know it.