Spring Gala Time

Gary W. Parr, Gerald L., Agnes Hassell, Peter May, Leni May, Stephen Sondheim, Donna Rosen, Benjamin M. Rosen, and Zarin Mehta at The New York Philharmonic's 2010 Spring Gala with SONDHEIM.

On Tuesday, March 9, The New York Public Library held its annual President’s Council Spring Dinner. The event was at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, with cocktails in Astor Hall; a riveting program with Niall Ferguson interviewed by James Surowiecki in the South Court Auditorium; and dinner in the Edna Barnes Salomon Room.

This year’s theme was The Ascent of Money and the Decent of the West: Historical Reflections on the Decade. The guest of honor was with best-selling author Niall Ferguson, a renowned professor of history and economics at Harvard University. Some of his best-selling books include Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire and his most recent The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World. He was named one of Time magazines “100 Most Influential People” in 2004.

Niall Ferguson interviewed by James Surowiecki.

Co-Chairmen for the President’s Council are Louise Grunwald, Gayfryd Steinberg, Alice Tisch, Catherine Marron, Chairman of the Board, The New York Public Library; and Paul LeClerc, President, The New York Public Library.

The President’s Council is the highest level of membership at The New York Public Library. They are a select group of people who have an interest in libraries and education. The Council has raised more $25 million for the Library.

Susan and Elihu Rose

David Offensend and Sally Butler

Ayaan Hirsi Ali with Tom and Alice Tisch

Mary Wallach and Tony Bechara

Jadrien Steele and Andrea Olshan

Gayfryd and Saul Steinberg with Rayne Steinberg and Arevik Torosian

Ann Spruill and Daniel Cantwell

Howard Milstein with Library President Paul LeClerc

Cathy and Stephen Graham

Nathan and Desiree Harbacek

Cherie Henderson and David Poppe

Darren Walker with Alice and David Elgart

Nancy, Peter, and Kenneth Stein

Alexandra Stanton, Sam Natapoff, and Domna Stanton

Ann Brashares and Jacob Collins

Virginia James, Jack Krelle, and Irene Dorner

Patricia Klingenstein and Ed Wachenheim

Lewis Cullman and Jacqueline Fowler

Hermes Mallea, Carey Maloney, and Richard Pasculano

Sally Ketchum, Joyce Cowin, and Jennifer Zaslow

Tom Tisch and Sue Ann Weinberg

Commissioner Marjorie Tiven with Roger Alcaly

Abby Milstein and Betty Bobrow

The New York Philharmonic celebrated its 2010 Spring Gala with SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert, a concert featuring performances of Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics this past Monday night at Avery Fisher Hall, at Lincoln Center.

At the Gala, there were over 479 guests and the night raised over $1,135,000.

Host David Hyde Pierce, conductor Paul Gemignani, director Lonny Price and choreographer Josh Rhodes led the New York Philharmonic in the concert celebrating Sondheim's 80th birthday with performances of his music and lyrics, including rarely heard material from stars of the stage and screen including: (in alphabetical order) Laura Benanti, Matt Cavenaugh, Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jenn Colella, Jason Danieley, Joanna Gleason, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, John McMartin, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Laura Osnes, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, Bobby Steggert, Elaine Stritch, Jim Walton, Chip Zien, and American Ballet Theatre dancers Blaine Hoven and Maria Riccetto.

Guests included Stephen Sondheim, Chairman Gary W. Parr, President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta and Carmen Mehta, Gala Chairmen Peter and Leni May, Gala Chairmen Benjamin M. and Donna Rosen, Alec Baldwin, Tamara Tunie, Eli Wallach, Jane Alexander, Phyllis Newman, Tony Kushner, Barry and Fran Weissler, Richard Kind, Andre DeShields, Beth Howland and Charles Kimbrough, William and Phyllis Mack, Larry and Klara Silverstein, The Honorable Donald M. Blinken and Vera Blinken, Toos N. and Hira Daruvala, Cosby and Timothy M. George, Marjorie and Gurnee F. Hart, Gerald L. and Agnes Hassell, Robert S. and Colleen Hekemian, Fred Krimendahl and Emilia Saint-Amand, Honey M. Kurtz, Helen and Robert J. Appel, Vivian Milstein, Charles and Anne Niemeth, Charles I. and Elaine Petschek, Joel I. and Joan Picket, Stanford and Sandra Warshawsky.

Zarin Mehta, Carmen Mehta, and Alec Baldwin

Will Swenson and Audra McDonald

Gil and Doris Meister

David Hyde Pierce

Alan S. MacDonald and his wife, Christina

Nathan Gunn

Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters

John Chalsty, Jill Chalsty, Peter Skoglund, and Kevin Croak

James Buckman and his wife, Nancy

Charles and Anne Niemeth

Honey Kurtz

William B. Lewis, Jr. and Carol Sutton Lewis

Kenneth A. Buckfire and his wife, Noreen

Shirley Bacot Shamel, Gerald L., and Agnes Hassell

Cosby George

Jill Chalsty, John Chalsty, and Melanie Forman

Debbie Bancroft

Bobby Steggart and Stephen Sondheim

Peter and Nancy Skoglund

Sanford and Sandra Warshawsky

The New York City Police Foundation held its annual gala benefit Monday night at the Waldorf. Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone participated. Commissioner Ray Kelly presided.

Tommy Mottola, Veronica Kelly, Thalia Mottola, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Commissioner Raymond Kelly

Bagpipers.

Marc Anthony.

They honored Carl and Gail G. Icahn and Marc Anthony performed. It was the foundation's most successful benefit and it felt that way.

Carl Icahn, Commissioner Raymond Kelly, and Gail Icahn

Valerie Salembier

Francine LeFrak and Rick Friedberg

Dolly Lenz and Diane Finnerty

Michael Douglas and Thalia Mottola

Charlie Rose

Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Christopher Newsom

Dale Hemmerdinger

Somers Farkas

Sharon Stone

Gail Icahn

Archbishop Timothy Dolan, and Monsignor Michael Curran

Bronson van Wyck, Alexandra Lebenthal, Felicia Taylor, and Jay Diamond

Margo Nederlander and James Nederlander

Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez

Ron Delsener and Barry Rosenstein

James Nederlander and David Blaine

Renaud Dutreil and Ellen Levine

Richard Handler and Martha Handler

Chuck Barris

Tina Brown and Commissioner Raymond Kelly

Charlie Rose and Mayor David Dinkins

Sir Harry Evans and Sharon Stone

Greg Kelly, Veronica Kelly, Michael Douglas, and Jim Kelly

Laura Robertson and Edward Walson

Animal lovers were happy to see “The Cove,” a documentary that showcased the slaughtering of dolphins in Japan win the Oscar for Documentary Feature. The film has inspired many to help end the unconscionable killing of the beloved mammals and animals in general. Eddie Dean, owner of Pacha, a hot nightclub on West 46th Street, organized a free dance party he dubbed P.A.C.H.A (People Against Cruelty & Harm to Animals).

The party featuring 50 of the city’s top DJs for the 20 something smart set suggested a voluntary donation that would be distributed amongst six animal charities. The organizations that benefited from the fun night were ASPCA, World Wildlife Fund, Identity Foundation, Rational Animal, IDA, and Pet’s Alive. Over $25,000 was raised, proving that even a modest donation from one person can make a difference in the fight against cruelty to all of God's beloved creatures.

The crowd at Pacha.

A spokesperson from Pet’s Alive, an organization that helps abandoned animals find good homes, explained to party goers the importance of no-kill shelters and animal adoptions. Their goal is to rescue, rehabilitate and place animals in need.

Among the 2,000 young people who came out to show their support were actress Sarah Bradford, tastemaker Zev Norotsky, jewelry designer Veronica Zhou, Clubplanet .com CEO Andrew Fox, caterer Andrea Correale, club owner Matthew Isaacs, entrepreneur Lev Ekster, animal advocate Cornelia Guest, and DJs, Cevin Fisher, Mario Calgari and Lauren Lane.

If you would like to donate to any of the charities listed, please visit their websites: www.petsalive.com [1], www.worldwildlife.org [2], www.rational-animal.org [3], and www.idausa.org [4].

Lev Ekster

Andrew Fox

Cornelia Guest

Sarah Bradford

Kevin and DJ Lauren Lane

Eslyn

DJ Cevin Fisher

On Saturday March 13th, the Humane Society of New York kicked off ticket sales for their upcoming Photography Auction with a party at Griffin hosted by Madison Avenue attorney and New York Times bestselling author Mark W. Smith, managing partner of Smith Valliere PLLC Tim Valliere, actress Sarah Bradford, and Cece Cord. The auction, set to take place on April 27th will honor legendary dancer and photographer Martha Swope and feature works by over 100 photographers including Annie Leibovitz, Bruce Weber, Hiro, and Milton H. Green. The various pieces will be sold by Jamie Niven at the Diane Von Furstenberg studio.

SassX7 performs.

Despite heavy rains and high winds, over 250 guests walked the red carpet with their furry friends. Attendees enjoyed a special performance by MTV's America's Best Dance Crew SassX7, and tasty treats provided by CupcakeStop. Among those who braved the storms were business anchor Rebecca Jarvis, former U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland Faith Whittlesey, animal advocate Cornelia Guest, CNN's Emily Barsh, John Lott and Mallory Factor of Fox News, Robert George, Page Six editor Richard Johnson, James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal, Track Entertainment CEO Andrew Fox, columnist Justin Ross Lee, Liz Derringer, designer Maggie Norris, CupcakeStop owner Lev Ekster, Michele Gerber Klein, Elaine Sargent, Melissa Berkelhammer and model/actress Cindy Guyer.

To donate to the Humane Society of New York please visit www.humanesocietyny.org [5]