Party Pictures 12/16/05 - Operation Smile, a New York Christmas, NYC Ballet in Chicago

Starting every day with a smile

Last Sunday night at the Café Carlyle Harvey Keitel, Fran Dresher, and Star Jones were all smiles at Operation Smile benefit hosted by Maggie Norris and Michele Gerber Klein. Operation Smile is a not-for-profit organization that performs life altering surgery on children worldwide, and the stars lent there names to support it.

The beautiful Café was decorated with beautiful bouquets of pink peonies. Caviar and champagne was served while guests awaited the exclusive performance by Grace Hightower De Niro.

Other treats were trays of exclusive Boucheron Bijoux jewelry collections along side Maggie Norris couture. Boucheron is one of the premiere sponsors for the Smile Collection Couture event on (May 19th, 2006) and will donate a percentage of all proceeds to Operation Smile.

Grace Hightower De Niro

Maggie Norris and Michèle Gerber Klein began the evening with a kind introduction for William P. Magee, Jr. D.D.S MD, Co-Founder and CEO of Operation Smile, who spoke inspiringly about the impact the organization has had in the lives of children and families all over the world. He finished with a simple reminder that kindness and donations from individuals like those in attendance is the catalysts for a child’s future to be better.

Other notables on hand to lend their support and time were director Daphna Kaster, actress Donna like those in Dixon, Patty and Nick Raynes, Martina Borgomanero, Sale Johnson, Ann Dexter Jones, Somers Farkas, Amy Fine Collins, author Dayle Haddon, shoe maven Renee Mancini, personal couture shopper Susan Tabak, director Andrew Le Pera, Emma Snowdon-Jones, Geneviève Labean, Linda Fargo and Robert Burke of Bergdorf Goodman, comedian Eric Richmond, and Al Reynolds.

Mrs. De Niro was wearing a stunning gold beaded 1920-inspired Maggie Norris Gown and Boucheron Jewels. Grace performed old standards late into the night backed up by musician and pianist Dan Manjovi and his band.

Throughout the world, Operation Smile volunteers repair childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families. They create smiles, change lives and heal humanity.

Sale Johnson, Harvey Keitel, Daphne Kastner Keitel, and Somers Farkas

Maggie Norris and Michele Gerber Klein

Robert Burke

Linda Fargo

Bill Magee

Elizabeth Loomis

Melissa Berkelhammer

Amy Fine Collins with Jonathan and Somers Farkas

Sharon Sondes, Geoffrey Thomas, and Anne Jones

L. to r.: Jen Araki; Bonnie and David Cantor; Shelley Murphy.

Nick Raynes, Patty Raynes, and Mary Hanlon

Sale Johnson and Susan Lloyd

Renee Mancini

Donna Dixon Aykroyd and Fran Dresher

Michele Gerber Klein, Dale Brown, and Maggie Norris

Amy Rosi and Anthony Coppers

Martina and Fabian Basabe

Dayle Haddon and Susan Tabak

Donna D'Cruz and Tom Silverman

The already cheery red décor of Doubles, the private club in the Sherry-Netherland is festooning with garlands, boughs and wreathes covered with twinkling lights, decorations and red bows. There are poinsettias, toys, teddy bears, stuffed penguins as well as the annual appearance of that big white carousel horse riding high above the buffet table. No warmer home for a beautiful Christmas celebration. The stockings are hung because Santa Claus is coming on Wednesday afternoon for “Doubles little Miracle on 59th Street,” as the club’s guiding light Wendy Carduner calls it. The club will be filled with little boys and girls, many meeting on jolly Ol’ St. Nick for the very first time. You have to see the wonderment of it all on these adorable the faces to remember when ….

The season started with a Nutcracker Suite party and includes a formal dinner dance featuring the Michael Carney Orchestra and Joe Claffy, a Charles Dickens Dinner, and the Associates’ Glittering Night chaired by Heather Sargent, Alatia Bradley, Claudia Overstrom, Mary Van Pelt and Mark Gilbertson. It all tops off in black-tie with Balloons and Bubbles and DJ John on New Year’s Eve.

The piece de resistance of their holiday festivities, however, is the legendary Christmas Luncheons: six days of friendly noontime reunions. laughter and lively conversations verily bubbling up the stairway through the lobby of the Sherry Netherlands and out onto Fifth Avenue, strolling carolers and the aroma of delicious food as the waiters enter bearing trays from the kitchen.

The lunch menu is different every day: Artichoke Flower with Crabmeat and Veal Française with Asparagus Risotto or Smoked Salmon with Cucumber Rings, Mushroom Crusted Lamb Chops with Basil Mashed Potatoes and Garden Vegetables, or Crabmeat and Avocado Timbale and Lamb Chops au Poivre with Celery Root, or Asparagus with Balsamic Roast Shitake Mushroom Salad and Ragout of Lobster and Crabmeat in a Puff Pastry Shell. And The Dessert Table: Lemon Cranberry Cake, Eggnog Baked Alaska, Gateau St. Honore, Seven Nut Torte, Bouche du Noel, Chocolate and Candied Orange Christmas Tree Cake, Chestnut and Graham Cracker Crumb Cheese Cake, Chocolate Mousse, Christmas Cookies and Ginger Snaps, Chocolate Covered Pretzels, and Cherries. One question: how do so many of these ladies stay so lovely and trim?

Joan Schnitzer and pals: Lauren Veronis, Cece Cord, Sharon Handler, Cornelia Bregman, Karen LeFrak, and Allison Stern

Who was there? Joan Rivers, Carolyn Roehm, Joan Schnitzer, Joanne de Guardiola, Jamee Gregory, Ruth Fleischmann, Robyn Joseph, Audrey Gruss, Hilary Ross, Evelyn Lauder, Mai Harrison, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Cece Cord, Somers Farkas, Topsy Taylor, Kitty McKnight, Judy Nye, Martha Kramer, Virginia Melhado, Candy Hamm, Nancy Brinker, Nikki Harris, Cornelia Bregman, R. Couri Hay, Karen LeFrak, Allison Stern, Rachel Hovnanian, Countess Nubia and Francesca Braschi, Alatia Bradley, Mary Van Pelt, Karen Clark, CeCe Black, Barbara Robinson, Catherine Adler, Monique Yazigi, and from Hermes USA Robert Chavez, President and CEO.

Wendy Carduner and Barbara Tober

Sharon Handler, Somers Farkas, and friend

Kalliope Karella, Mark Gilbertson, Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, and Tiffany Dubin

Countess Nubia and Francesca Braschi

Joanne de Guardiola, Wendy Carduner, and Karen LeFrak

Rachel Hovnanian

Clockwise from top left: Jamee Gregory, Audrey Gruss, Martha Kramer, and Hilary Geary; Topsy Taylor, Kitty McKnight, and friend; Cynthia Maltese, Joan Rivers, and Wendy Carduner.

Doubles Christmas decor

Audrey Gruss and Hilary Geary

Carolyne Roehm and Wendy Carduner

Evelyn Lauder and Mai Harrison

L. to r.: Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos and friend; Eva Lorenzotti; The festive atmosphere at Doubles.

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Graff Diamonds played host to the board members of the New York City Ballet on the First Anniversary of the Graff store in Chicago on the announcement of New York City Ballet’s coming to Chicago for the first time in 40 years.

Laurence Graff flew on his private jet to play host to many prominent Chicagoans. The board members attending were Mr. and Mrs. Gary Comer, Mr. and Mrs. King Harris, Mr. and Mrs. John Nichols, and Ms. Linda Johnson Rice. The renaissance performance of the New York City Ballet in Chicago is benefiting The Harris Theatre for Music and Dance.