Bill Diamond, Regine Traulsen, Victor Moore, and John Tatooles

One of dilemmas of this age is simply too much information — resulting in serious attention deficits on the issues that to affront humanity at its core. On of those issues that have suffered at the hand of too much about too much is the still-spiraling HIV/AIDS crisis. So much has happened since Rock Hudson, Perry Ellis, Halston, Peter Allen and Arthur Ashe died and Mary Fisher and Magic Johnson heroically revealed their HIV status. Princess Diana isn’t around to hug the afflicted anymore, and Elizabeth Taylor is having enough trouble simply being Elizabeth Taylor. Yet the disease continues to ravage — as it moves exponentially beyond its first target of the gay male population into women of color and most disturbingly, America’s youth. CAP, the Comprehensive AIDS Program of Palm Beach County, has been at the forefront of education, advocacy, testing and social services for over 20 years. And the passage of time, even with advanced treatment protocols, has only compounded its need. Almost 12% of the country’s 1.2 million HIV-infected individuals live in Florida, with a rapidly growing percentage of new infections in persons under 25 years of age.

Jeff Rundell and Ray Arjune

Mark Lowham, Caitlin and Marisa Schmidt, and Joseph Ruzzo

In support of CAP, a large group of Palm Beachers gathered at the Governors Club-for cocktails, camaraderie and check writing. Billed as “Up on the Roof” aptly named for the club’s location atop the Phillips Point tower — the evening was chaired by Chicagoans Victor Moore and John Tattoles. Saaga Vodka poured, guests drew for a sprightly Lilly Pulitzer tie and pocket square, and cabaret star Michael Ferreri, a regular at NYC’s legendary Townhouse, wowed the crowd- much to the delight of folks like local “Angels of AIDS” Dorothy Sullivan and Lydia Crozier, Lyn and Dan Lerner, Regine Traulsen and Michael Diamond, Melissa Parker, Arnold Scaasi and Parker Ladd, Diana and Michael Perry, Michael Carr, Ros Clarke, Reed Stewart, Marty and Rick Theise, Stephen Mooney and Scott Velozo, Jack Young, Penny Williams, Kenn Karakul, Liz Quinn, Greg Mermigas and Stephen Harsnett, Scott Kent and scores more.

Melanie and Christopher Hill

Event chairmen John Tatooles and Victor Moore

Ros Clarke and Reed Stewart

Michael Murphy, Charles Kappler, Gemma Closson, and Rick Moeser

Michael Ferreri performs

Chad Renfro, Stephen Mohler, and Dan Hall

Joe Dobbins, Cammi Werling, and Lauren and Brandon Moore

Lydia Crozier at the piano bar

Lyn and Dan Lerner

Dr. Wedler and Magdalie Alexandre

Yolette Bonnet, Dan Lerner, and Rachel Pierre

Scott Velozo, Penny Williams, and Stephen Mooney

Jack Staub, Renny Reynolds, Paul Gaucher, and Peter Niemitz

Steven Stolman, Denis Hanrahan, and Gary Little

Down in Houston Lana Marks launched the first ever American exhibition of Lana Marks’ Jeweled Red Carpet Cleopatra Clutch which has been worn to every Academy Awards since 2004 by the likes of Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet and Charlize Theron. This collection of unique handbags is valued at a million dollars. The event which benefited the lifesaving programs of UNICEF was chaired by Dr. Carolyn Farb and Donna Speer. Nidhika and Pershant Mehta opened their gorgeous memorial home for the luncheon and fashion show. Among the guests attending were: Donna and John Speers, JoAnne King Herring, Stephanie Cockrell, Leela Krishnamurthi, Anna and Thomas Au, Kimberly DeLape, and Betty and John Hrncir.

Ed Silliman and Carolyn Farb

Donna and John Speers

Gene and Astrid Van Dyke

Harriet Gerner

John M. Tsacrios, Jr. and Lana Marks

Anna Au, Lana Marks, and Thomas Au

Nicole O'Neil

Kathryn and Jeff Smith

Donna Speers, Lana Marks, Carolyn Farb, and Nidhika Mehta

John M. Tsacrios, Jr., Carolyn Farb, and Dr. German Newall

Nidhika and Pershant Mehta

Kimberly DeLape and Pershant Mehta

Ericka Bagwell and Lisa Mouton

Marilyn Wilhelm and Sue Trammel Whitfield

Betty and John Hrncir with Carolyn Farb

JoAnne King Herring with Jeff and Kathryn Smith

Stephanie Cockrell and Katie Brass

Ulyesse and Barbara LeGrange

Sydney Faust and Carolyn Mann

Leela Krishnmurthy, Carolyn Farb, and Anna Au

Fashion Show

Photo of Helen Mirren with Cleopatra Clutch

Fashion Show

Photo of Kate Winslet and Cleopatra Clutch

Back to Palm Beach: Christie's hosted a party at Lars Bolander's new villa in West Palm Beach for David Linley, the British furniture designer and style guru.

Nick Simunek, Viscount David Linley, and Lars Bolander

Edwina Sandys and Coco Blaffer

Liza Pulitzer, Diane de La Begassiere, Denis LeMarsh, and Gay Kanuth

Kate Gubelmann, Britty Cudlip, and Tantivy Boswick

Tom Quick, Mila Mulroney, Mark Mulroney, and Tantivy Bostwick

Nina Kaminska and James Tigani

Geoffrey Thomas and Lady Sharon Sondes

Kit Panill, Viscount David Linley, and Maura Benjamin

Sharon Sondes, Viscount David Linley, and Terry Kramer

Terry Kramer, Mary Morse, and Helen Cluett

Arnold Scassi and Kathy Rayner

Anka Palitz

Bill Benjamin and Alyne Massey

Anka Palitz, Candy Hamm, and Maura Benjamin

Alison Newton, Nancy Corzine, and Dennis Hunt

Anna and Fernando Tonarely

Annette Tapert, Barry Donahue, and Iris Apfel

Fran Weissler, Tony Leeds, and Cindy Harney

Charlene Nederlander, Jimmy Nederlander, and Margo MacNabb

Lars Bolander and Iris Apfel

Lars Bolander and Tatiana D'Abo

Edwina Sandys and Viscount David Linley

They held the 50th anniversary celebration of Greenwich’s hometown symphony orchestra on March 29 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich. Friends, music lovers, and supporters gathered to honor the orchestra. The annual soiree raises funds for the Symphony and its youth programs. They honored Robert Sherman, renowned music writer, broadcaster, concert narrator, and critic, whose popular program The Listening Room, was heard on WQXR radio, with whom Mr. Sherman has been affiliated for nearly 50 years.  He has reviewed music for The New York Times, and now reviews the GSO for the Greenwich Time.  In l992, he joined the faculty of Juilliard School in New York, and is the co-author of many books.  Mr. Sherman attended the event with his wife Veronica, giving the keynote comments. Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei and his wife Jill, dedicated supporters of the Symphony, mingled, dined, and danced to the music of Paul Lacano and the Cocktail Shakers.

Honored guest Robert Sherman, Greenwich Symphony Conductor David Gilbert, Soiree committee Chair Corinta N. Ciano Kotula, and Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei with wife Jill

The silent auction, which included a trip to Paris as the highest selling item, a set of Ming emperor figures, tickets to the Metropolitan Opera, dinners at Le Figaro and Mediterraneo restaurants, and a one-year family membership to the Greenwich YWCA, as well as “his and hers” pairings, raised funds for the Symphony’s ongoing programs. Among attendees were long-time Conductor of the Greenwich Symphony David Gilbert, Dean of the Juilliard School of Music Stephen Clapp, Golden anniversary patron Elizabeth Shippee and her guests, President of the Board of Directors Mary Radcliffe and her husband Richard, and Christopher and Joanne Stavrou of the Board of the Connecticut Grand Opera.

Charlotte and Richard Wolter, GSO Board of Directors

Greenwich Citizen music critic Linda Phillips and Richard Wolter

Edmund Schmidt and Georgia von Schmidt, winning bidders for the trip to Paris

Donald and Marcia Clay Hamilton of the Soiree Committee with Pierre Gourdon

Clockwise from top left: James Daniel, Nancy Lucht, Lu Morris, and Lenore de Csepel; David and Linda Barnabl; Hadi and Mirella Hajjar; Mary and Dick Radcliffe, Benefit Chair Corinta Kotula, Conductor David Gilbert, and Antek Kotula.

Elizabeth Shippee and Robert Boylin

Sophia James, Robert Lawrence, and Suzanne Hascoe

Guest of Honor Robert Sherman, his wife Veronica, and Benefit Chair Corinta Kotula

Stephen Boies and Associate Conductor Patricia Handy

John and Lenore De Csepel

Dorothy Friedman, Benefit Chair Corinta Kotula, and Paul Toldalagi

Photographs by Lucien Capehart (Lars)

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