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than 300 guests gathered at the Pierre Hotel
on Friday, December 9th, to celebrate Madison Square Boys & Girls
Club’s
39th Annual Christmas Tree Ball. The evening raised money to help
benefit Madison’s
6,500 youth. Festivities included silent and live auctions,
dinner and dancing, and a special performance by members of Madison’s
Columbus Clubhouse Dancers and Jazz Choir.
Event committee
members in attendance included co-chairs Tracy Young and Nick
Tommasino along with Joan
Coppotelli, Merel Cayne,
Michael Geltzeiler, Mark Gilbertson, Christine Smith Gray, John
Ketterer, Michelle Llewelyn, Lois Nasser, and Dr.
Mauro Romita. Other
notables in attendance included Stephen Einhorn and Christine
Sidoti, Tina Flaherty, Victor and Patricia Ganzi, Jack and Ann
Grimm, Margo
Langenberg, Robbin Mele, Allison Minton, Thomas and Suzanne Murphy,
Bill and Diane Parrett, Mrs. William (Joy) Ruane, and Leila
and Melville Straus. The live auction was conducted by
Hugh Hildesley, executive vice president, Sotheby’s. |
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Madison
Square Boys & Girls Club performers
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| Since
1884, the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club has
been providing after school and summer programs for thousands
of children in New York City’s most disadvantaged communities. By
providing proven education, recreation and guidance programs
in a safe and nurturing environment that many children consider
a second home, they help their young participants lead happy,
healthy and productive lives. A founding member of the Boys & Girls
Club of America, Madison currently serves over 6,500 youth
ages six to eighteen at seven clubhouses in the Bronx, Brooklyn
and Queens and at Camp Madison in Kingston, New York. For more
information, visit their website at www.madisonsquare.org. |
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Joseph
Patuleia, Tina Flaherty, Marisa Amendolara, and Steve Melton
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Joan
Coppotelli and Michele Llewelyn
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Mark
Gilbertson, Christine Smith Grey, and Ann Grimm
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Mr.
and Mrs.
Peter Regna
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Mrs.
and Mr.
Jeffrey Reidenour
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Tracy
Young, Craig Danforth, and Alison Minton
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Ann
Goater and Jessica Forbes
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Linda
Romita and Dana Cox
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Thomas
S. Murphy and Christine Smith Gray
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Christina
Sidoti and Steven Einhorn (right) with a friend
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Dan Mosley
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Top: Jack
Grimm. Above: Paul Hochman and Carrie Steinberg.
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L.
to r.: Ann Grimm; Michael and Roseanne Geltzeiler; Pam
Kelly.
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Alan
Davis and Kathryn Williams
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Victor Ganzi
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Mrs.
William Ruane
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On
the first Sunday in December, thousands of New
Yorkers gathered at Park Avenue and 91st Street to hear the children’s
choir of the Brick Church sing and the U.S. Army Band play Taps in
honor
of our fallen heroes.
This year marks the 60th anniversary and the celebration was once
again, filled with onlookers to see the lighting of the Park Avenue
Memorial Christmas Trees. The imported Douglas Firs, which stand
on the avenue’s islands extending from East 46th Street to
96th Street were illuminated by over two million light bulbs.
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Clif
Maloney and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
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Following the ceremony, a
group of almost 200 supporters collected at the Italian Consulate
on Park Avenue and 69th Street for a cocktail
reception with musical entertainment by New York’s top society
band, The Alex Donner Orchestra, the official band for the Park Avenue
Memorial Tree Lighting for the past six years. Guests included His
Excellency Minister Kjell Anneling, Consul General of Sweden and
his wife Bergit, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and her husband
Clif Maloney and Derek and Nicole Limbocker. The grand staircase
of the old Henry Davidson mansion was lined in abundant
red Poinsettias and lush green boughs greeting the arriving guests.
In the main reception
room, there was a magnificent 14-foot Christmas tree decorated with
red velvet ribbons, flickering white lights and shiny gold ornaments – the
work of Jamie Gibbs and Associates.
Margaret Ternes the executive director of The Fund
for Park Avenue, toasted the contributors for their continued devotion
to keeping
the Park Avenue Memorial Trees lit each year. The tradition was begun
by Susan Vanderpoel Clark, the wife of Stephen
Carlton Clark, a philanthropist
and an heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune and one of the founders
of the Museum of Modern Art, who wanted a way to honor the servicemen
from World War II. Ms. Ternes described the history of the house,
in which the Italian Consulate now presides, built by Henry
Davidson of Bankers Trust, the builder and its first owner from 1917-1922,
and later owned by the Prince of Reuss.
The Fund for Park Avenue pays for the tree lighting and is a non-profit
organization. Contributions come from more than 2,500 residents,
businesses, property owners and friends. Joanne Woodward,
Brooke Astor, David Rockefeller, Jack Rudin, and Martin
Gruss are
among the supporters. |
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Alex
Donner and His Excellency Minister Antonio Bandini, Consul General
of Italy
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Derek
and Nicole Limbocker
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Jamie
Gibb and Lisa Sivy
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Alex
Donner Band Member playing Taps
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William
Castro, His Excellency Minister Antonio Bandini,
and Margaret Ternes
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Alexandra
Morf, Kathleen Giordano, and Linda Mansfield
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Bergit
Anneling, His Excellency Minister Kjel Anneling, and His
Excellency Minister Antonio Bandini
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US
Army Band playing
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Last
week art dealer/film producer James Francis Trezza threw his annual Christmas party at the Columbus Citizens Foundation
(Columbus
Club) located at 69th Street and Fifth Avenue. This year Mr. Trezza
introduced the International Opera Alliance, a program his foundation
is sponsoring.
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The
invite
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The IOA is the
only program of its kind. Its mission is to identify, nurture and
launch gifted yet undiscovered operatic talent worldwide.
Starting last June with a joint venture with the Shanghai Opera House
to inaugurate the Oriental Arts Center with Shanghai’s first
full Italian language production of Puccini’s Tosca. Mr. Trezza
will chair the New York Institute for the IOA starting this spring.
After the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, guests were treated
to a world class recital from singers that the IOA found and trained.
Co-founders; Artistic Director Maestro Peter Mark of the Virginia
Opera, Alice Kandell and Mr. Trezza hosted the evening.
Soprano Wei Huang and tenor Chi Liming, two
Chinese singers making their American operatic debut sang "Madrigal," from Romeo
and Juliet. The dazzling Cristina Nassif, sang
"Quando me’ n
vo" from La Boheme and Ch’ il bel sogno-Doretta’s
Aria (Rondine). Guests were awestruck by 22-year-old singing sensation Manon Strauss
Evrard performing "del Raggio lusinghier" from Rossini’s Semi Ra Mide. Evrard was found two days prior at an auditon for the
IOA
at Chealsea Studios. The IOA will be presenting her next season in
a full orchestral program.
Other IOA singers included Kristin Rothfuss, Gustavo Manzitti,
and Eric Green, who joined Evrard in a
finale of The Rigoletto Quartet with pianist Dan Sanders.
Some of the guest: Celeste Holm and Frank Basile, Ulu Grosbard
and Rose Gregorio, Ben Barenholtz, Barbara DeFina, George Sheanshang
and Nikki Noya, Fran Drescher, Countess Bozina-Malina Wolperski-Jackson,
Geoffrey Bradfield, Susanna Allen, John Hall, Asher and Michelle
Edemlan, Ahmed and Susan Akkad, Gail Pellet and Stephen VanDam, Ricki
Roer and Peter McIssac, Ted Porter, Jackie Chorney, Winnie Klotz,
Smeeta Sharon, Alastair and Caroline Crawford, Greg McCarthy, David
Coiro, Jennifer Condren and Chris Bargas, Dr. Elizabeth Oustinoff. |
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Celeste
Holm and James Trezza
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Frank
Owens and his band
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Alice
Kandell
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Peter
Mark
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Manon
Strauss Evrad
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Eric
Greene
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Cristina Nassif
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Kristin
Rothfuss and Gustavo Manzitti
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James
Trezza, Nikki Noya, George Sheanshang, Ben Barenholtz, and
Ulu Grosbard
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Two
days later Ambassador and Mrs. Adamantios Vassilakis hosted
the IOA for a recital at the Greek Mansion for the Diplomatic community.
Among the guests: The Honorable John Bolton, United States Ambassador
to
the United Nations and his wife Mrs. Gretchen Bolton, H.E. Mr. Hjalmar
W Hannesson, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Iceland, H.E.
Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Marc
Hoscheit, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Luxembourg, H.E
Mr.
and Mrs. Baki Ilkin Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
Turkey; Lady and H.E. Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, Permanent Representative
to the United
Nations,
U.K; Mr. and Mrs Paul Plishka, Hilde Gerst, Alice Kandell, and James
Francis Trezza.
For more information, please contact the Trezza Foundation at 212-327-2218. |
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Alice
Kandell, His Excellency Ambassador Vassilakis of Greece,
Hon. Ambassador John Bolton and Mrs. Gretchen Bolton, Mrs.
Faye Vassi, Peter Mark, and James Trezza
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Hon.
Ambassador John Bolton and Mrs. Gretchen Bolton
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Frederick
Burchinal
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Wei
Huang
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Manon
Strauss Evrad
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Cristina
Nassif, Manon Strauss Evrad, James Trezza, and Peter Mark
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James
Trezza, Frederick Burchinal, and L. Pollock Speigel
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Volunteers
of America-Greater New York held its 10th annual
gala, A New York Christmas, and it was a great success.
The famed Four Seasons Restaurant
was transformed
into a winter wonderland where 375 guests
enjoyed signature dishes from some of New York City’s most
acclaimed restaurants. Michael A. Clinton, Executive
Vice President/Chief Marketing Officer & Publishing Director
of Hearst Magazines, and Ron Frasch, Vice Chairman/Chief
Merchant of Saks Fifth Avenue, co-chaired this year’s event,
and Scott Conant chaired the
Chefs’ Committee. The gala benefits VOA's Hope & Hearth
holiday food voucher program which supplements the holiday food budgets
of
neighbors in need. Through the generosity of supporters,
Volunteers of America raised nearly $500,000 at this year’s
event.
Guests at a New York Christmas had the privilege of sampling signature
dishes of some of the most generous and talented chefs, affiliated
with some of the finest restaurants in New York including Esca,
Riingo, L'Impero, Lever House and San Domenico. This year, 27 restaurants
participated, serving up extraordinary fare from Chestnut & Chickpea
Soup with Shaved White Truffle, to Smoked and Roasted Duck Breast
with Autumn Squash Hash and Fig Reduction. The restaurants donated
not only their time, but all the food they served. Another generous
gala partner, iSi North America, gave each of the chefs a state-of-the-art
Thermo Whip as a gift. |
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Celebrity
Chefs for 10th Annual A New York Christmas
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| For
more than a century, Volunteers of America has
been helping tens of thousands of people each year leave homelessness,
addiction, untreated mental illness and intergenerational poverty
behind, for good. |
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Georgia
and Ronald
Frasch
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Elif
Sallorenzo, Edgar Huber, and Shelley Huber
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Amy
McFarland and Zac Posen
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Cocktails
at The Four Seasons
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Dinner
in the Pool Room of The Four Seasons
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Gaetano
Sallorenzo and Ronald Frasch
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Julian
Niccolini and friend
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Michael
Clinton, Gail Pisano, Joe Gromek, and Gaetano Sallorenzo
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Gaetano
Sallorenzo, Valerie Salembier, and Paul Block
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Josh
Deutsch, Carolina Zapf, and John Josephson
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Michael
Clinton and Ronald Frasch
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Ronald
Frasch, Linda McNeil-Tantawi, and Michael Clinton
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The
Opening Night Preview party for Antiques & Fine
Art at the Armory was successful in raising $100,000 for The Boys’ Club
of New York on Wednesday, December 7th. Over 500 guests attended
the event held at The Seventh Regiment Armory on Park Avenue
at 67th Street, all of who enjoyed the special Chefs’ Tastings,
which were set up on tables between the rows of fabulous antiques
and gorgeous fine art. Some of the delicious offerings included The
Central Park Boathouse’s crab-cakes, where a large crowd formed
a line. Other restaurants that served up their specialties included,
Aureole, Fiamma, One If By Land, Two If By Sea, Park Avenue Café,
and Payard who helped guests round out their palates with bite-sized
chocolates. However, if you were not a chocolate fan, you were able
to make a bid on one of the magnificent homemade Ginger Bread Houses
featured in the silent auction.
The Honorary Chair was Jamee Gregory. The Co-Chairmen
were Friederike
Biggs, Linda Hickox, Jay Keith, Simone Mailman, Lindsey Pryor. Guests
included Former Governor of New Jersey Thomas Keane, Mario
Buatta, Catherine Cahill and William Bernhard, Hilary Geary and Wilbur
Ross,
Peter Gregory, Martin and Audrey Gruss, Michel Witmer, Christopher
and Simone Mailman, Hermes Mallea and Carey Mailman, Patricia Patterson,
Charles and Anne Smithers, Mai Harrison and Ridgely W. Harrison,
Melissa Berkelhammer, Carey Malmen, Diane Van Amerongen, Patricia
Patterson, Scott Salvator, and Geoffrey Bradfield.
As the nation’s oldest and largest organization of its kind,
The Boys’ Club of New York has been at the vanguard of youth
development for more than 125 years. It is rooted in a tradition
and history of community service, outreach and philanthropy to some
of New York City’s most socially disadvantaged and economically
troubled neighborhoods. |
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| Clockwise
from far left: Kathleen Giordano and Michel
Witmer; Ashley Constable and Melissa Berkelhammer;
Karen Clark, Barrie Van Der Poel, Suzette Smith,
and Audrey Gruss; Jay Keith; Jamee Gregory;
Linda Hickox and Thorunn Wathne. |
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Hilary
Geary and Wilbur Ross
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Mario
Buatta and Liz Gardiner
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Kirk
Henckels and Linda Hickox
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| Photographs
by Chris London (Park Avenue). |
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