Party Pictures 11/7/05 - The 2005 Princess Grace Awards gala; Julian Schnabel's birthday at Galleria illy & Halloween night at Galleria illy; ABT's A Magical Evening Aboard The Highlander; Launch of the 2006 Angel Corella Calendar Featuring The Men of American Ballet; Harry Winston's preview luncheon in Miami, “Winston’s Treasure.”

A host of parties ...

The 2005 Princess Grace Awards gala, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, created in memory of Princess Grace of Monaco to help aspiring artists realize their dreams of a performing arts career, honored Mikhail Baryshnikov as the inaugural recipient of the Prince Rainier III Award for his outstanding contribution to the arts. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the Award. Joining HSH Prince Albert II in bestowing the Awards were Bebe Neuwirth, Edie Falco, Isabella Rossellini, and Alan Cumming. The event was chaired by Gillian and Sylvester Miniter. Larry King was master of ceremonies before an audience which included Liza Minelli, Spike Lee, Bebe Neuwirth, Edie Falco, Diane Sawyer, Bob and Veronique Pittman, Alex Lind Rose, designers Alvin Valley, Angel Sanchez, and Lela Rose, Tinsley Mortimer. Some past Award winners include Stephen Hillenburg creator of Nickelodeon’s Sponge Bob Square Pants; Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Tony Kushner; Gillian Murphy, principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre.

Mikhail Baryshnikov

The Awards Ceremony was followed by a performance by Natalie Merchant, former lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. Natalie has sold over 14 million albums and hadn’t performed since summer 2004.

Foundation Chairman, Hon. John F. Lehman has stated that “Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dedication to nurturing young talent is exemplary; his commitment to artistic excellence, unsurpassed. We are happy to pay tribute to his efforts and support the creation of the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC).” BAC, located at 450 West 37th Street, New York City, opens this fall as a laboratory for new work and a creative haven for emerging artists.

“For young, talented artists to develop and reach their full potential, it takes hard work, dedication, commitment and resources. The Princess Grace Foundation addresses this need, enabling young artists to pursue their craft. I am deeply honored to be affiliated with this event,” said Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The vast hall turned suddenly quiet as guests watched a touching video retrospective of moments from the life of the royal family of Monaco. Later on guests danced the night away in a lounge designed by Maurice Villency Co.

Julianna Margulies

Tinsley Mortimer

Gillian Miniter and Anita Meltzer

Diane Sawyer

J. McIntosh

Alex Lind Rose and Alvin Valley

Prince Albert of Monaco and Liza Minnelli

Braden Keil and Larry King

Sylvester and Gillian Miniter

Alan Cumming

Natalie Merchant

Mr. Cipriani has some laughs

Two Wednesdays ago, artist and film maker Julian Schnabel celebrated his birthday at Galleria illy by hosting an intimate dinner party catered by Nobu with his closest friends and family including Mary Boone, Willem Dafoe, Ralph Fiennes, Jeff and Justine Koons, Michael and Ninah Lynne, Richard Pandiscio, Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed, Ian Schrager, and Sandy Brant and Ingrid Sischy.

The New York born artist is best known for his leading role in the mid-1980’s neo-expressionism movement, where bold, emotionally-charged work contrasted with the minimalism dominant at the time. Who doesn’t remember his painted broken plates and crockery adhered to wooden boards that caused such a sensation and controversy at the time of their unveiling? In addition to his physical creations, he went on to astonish people by writing and directing two remarkable films: Basquiat (in 1996) and Before Night Falls (in 2000).

Ralph Fiennes and Julian Schnabel

The birthday party also marked the unveiling of Schnabel’s creation of the illy cup collection. With this event, Mr. Schnabel joined the international group of elite artists who’ve graced illy cups with their original designs since 1992 – including James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg, David Byrne, Marco Lodola, Sandro Chia as well as legendary filmmakers Federico Fellini and Francis Ford Coppola. Mr. Schnabel also enjoys the distinction of being the only member of the group who is both artist and filmmaker. Which is not to say, of course, that Fellini and Coppola aren’t artists, in a manner of speaking.

The illy collections are produced in very limited editions and signed and number and as a result are prized by collectors all over the world. The Schnabel espresso cup collection, for example, includes five weekday cups and one can of illy coffee all retailing for $160. The Mug Collection, including Schnabel’s two weekend mugs, along with one can of illy coffee, retails for $60. Both sets are available on www.illyusa.com.

Schnabel’s series of the seven porcelain cups and saucers for illy features his longtime inspiration, the surfer-themed character named Chuck. In keeping with the surf theme, the cups come packaged in a Schnabel-designed life preserver. “They’re all about Chuck and his different feelings,” Mr. Schnabel explained, adding, “I think they look like magazine illustrations back in the fifties.”

Galleria illy is no corner coffee shop; it is a gallery in every sense of the word, where visitors will experience “all things illy” in a modern, minimalist, very Italian setting.

Galleria illy is offering three original programs, available during the Galleria’s entire run, at 382 West Broadway through December 15, where you will be able to discover and experience the world’s finest coffee, and illy’s passions for art and culture. More information is available at www.illyusa.com/galleria.

If you’ve every awoken to the pleasures of a silky café latte, or insist on a steamy, frothy cappuccino to cap off a great meal, you can thank the Illy family. In the 1930s invented the modern espresso machine.

Julian Schnabel and Liv Tyler

Carlo, Julian, and Olatz Schnabel

Olatz Schnabel and Padma Lakshmi

Stephanie Seymour and Peter Brant

Ralph Fiennes and Peter Beard

Pre-dinner

Schnabel cups

The dinner party

Salman Rushdie and Julian Schnabel

Mary Boone and Lou Reed

Willem Dafoe and Eddie Stern

On Halloween night they held a Halloween Party at Galleria illy, with Marina Abramovic “Scary Music Dance Food Fun.” There were presentations by the independent performance group including “Release No. 3” by Ivan Civic (Bosnia); “Lott’s wife” by Amanda Coogan; “Café Frappe” by Nezaket Ekicki; “H&G&C” by Eun Hye Hwang; “Emcee C.M. and the Gigantopumpkin” by Colin McMullan; “Temperamental Dance” by TBL.

Last month, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center held its "Annual Women's Health Symposium" at Citigroup. Leading medical specialists, representing the fields of psychiatry, neurology and dermatology shared their expertise on various topics, including self-esteem, memory and skin care, and how they pertain specifically to women. Co-Chairs were Myra Mahon and Joan Weill. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Ariadne Platero and Ashley Von Perfall

Teresa Teague, Anita Gotto, Joan Weill, and Christina MacDonald

Dr. Norman Relkin, Dr. Gail Saltz, Dr. Orli Etingin, Myra Mahon, Dr. Herbert Pardes, Joan Weill, and Dr. Diane Berson

Blair Husain, Sloan McClure, and Coralie Charriol

On a recent Friday night, the Junior Council of American Ballet Theatre held "A Magical Evening Aboard the Forbes Yacht," The Highlander and cruised New York harbor.

Co-Chairs were Fabiola Beracasa, Blair Husain, and Amanda Meigher. Along with ABT dancers, Maxim Beloserkovsky, Irena Dvorovenko, Carmen Carella, Herman Cornejo, Paloma Herrera, Julie Kent, Xiomara Reyes, guests included Melissa Berkelhammer, Daniel Cappello, Coralie Charriol Paul and Dennis Paul, Pamela Fielder, David Ford, Sara McClure, Jake Dwyer, Fazle Husain, Sloane McClure, Harry LeFrak, Spencer Edge, Claudia Overstrom, and Peter Sommer.

Julissa Tolla and Leslie Kumar

Claudia Overstrom and Nancy Sambuco

Jennifer Whalen and Jennifer Lee

Amy Brown and Peter Lyden

Cedric Watkins

L. to r.: Susan Shin and Chrsitina Wood; The Highlander.

John Banta and Peter Lyden

Lee and Laura Wells

Peter Sommer

Ellie Berlin, Peter Lyden, Amanda Meigher, and Mike Larocca

Jay and Amy Regan

Nancy and Joe Sambuco with Claudia Overstrom

Marissa Piropato

Coralie Charriol Paul and Dennis Paul

Spencer Edge and Jake Dwyer

Harry LeFrak, Sara McClure, and Blair and Fazle Husain

Rachel Moore, David Ford, and Pamela Fielder

Melissa Berkelhammer, Chris Lentz, and Amanda Meigher

The Highlander crew

Last Monday at the Rizzoli Bookstore on West 57th Street, Leaps & Bounds Productions launched the 2006 Angel Corella Calendar Featuring The Men of American Ballet. Friends and fans of the ballet were there lining up to get their calendars autographed by the 11 dancers who appear in the calendar.

The calendar which was shot by Norwegian photographer John Andresen last May features the artistry of eleven members of the ABT, with each dancer bringing something unique to every photograph. Angel Corella effortlessly leads the pack with his ebullient athleticism and grace. Following Mr. Corella are Bo Busy, Buck Collins, Kenny Easter, Alex Hammoudi, Blaine Hoven, Vitalu Krauchenka, Jared Matthews, Patrick Ogle, Aaron Scott, and Roman Zhurbin.

The cover of the 2006 Calendar

Leaps and Bounds Productions, Inc., founded in 2004 by dancer Buck Collins, is a company devoted to exposing dance through collaborations with other forms of artistic expression. Their first product launched in Fall 2004 was met with great success in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.abtcalendar.com.

Among the guests attending besides the dancers were Christopher Wheeldon, the NYC Ballet choreographer, Genevieve Labean (of the NYC Ballet), Nancy Cooney, Marian Horosko (NY correspondent of Dancer Magazine), James Langston, Cynthia McGinnis, Meg Parsont, Peg and Peggy Ranieri, June Schneider, Bob Rizzo, Jodi and Erica Silverman, Gina Stiffler and Olivia Striffler.

Buck Collins with Yuko Koda and Yuko Iwata

Jodi and Erica Silverman

Angel Corella and Christopher Wheeldon

Blaine Hoven, Roman Zhurbin, and Alex Hammoudi

Olivia Striffler and Gina Striffler

Peg and Peggy Ranieri

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Ana Varela

On Friday, October 21, before Hurricane Wilma blew into Miami, Harry Winston, Bal Harbour’s salon director Susan Pullin, its chief Marketing Officer, Susy Korb, and Director of Sales Brett Sherlock, hosted a preview luncheon “Winston’s Treasure,” in anticipation of their December opening.

As guests enjoyed fabulous plates of oysters, shrimp and other delights from King Neptune, at the hotel’s Champagne, Crustacean and Caviar Room, they had the opportunity to preview of the the fabulous jewels from Harry Winston displayed on beds of coral and nestled in crab claws.

The intimate luncheon for 25 was attended by some of Miami’s leading social ladies including: Fana Holtz, Andrea Holtz, Norma Quintero, Jillian Dinnerstein, Beth Tasca, Nicole Lozano, Norma Quintero, Lydia Prio-Touzet, and Diane Ares.

Harry Winston will be hosting a series of events to celebrate the Bal Harbour opening including the Jackson Memorial Foundation’s Holtz Children’s Hospital Guardian Angels Luncheon today, November 7th, and a dinner on December 13th following the boutique opening at the home of Ambassador and Mrs. Stephen Green honoring the Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys.