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Donna
Karan's Weiss studio on Greenwich Street for a book party for Lynn
Front to Back. 7:30
PM. Photo: JH.
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Yesterday
was a sunny, muggy Tuesday in New York. The weatherman predicted thundershowers. Not. Down at Michael’s and over
at Swifty’s, all indications were that the summer was over
and it was back to business. New Yorkers were out.
Fashion editor Candy Pratts Price was lunching
with a friend, and their cellphones; uber-editor/author Michael
Korda was with Susan
Cheever; agent Owen Laster with
publisher Ron Weisbach; Hollywood’s Suzanne du
Passe with a couple of gents,
and across the way Barbara Walters with Mercedes Bass.
Roger Ailes with Liz Smith,
Boaty Boatwright with Joan Didion; Alice Mayhew with Sally
Quinn, Barry Diller was holding forth at another table, Chris
Meigher with Brooke McMurray of Safe
Horizon; Helen Kaplan with Judy Woodruff, Gloria Vanderbilt with Helen
Gurley
Brown; and around the room: Francine LeFrak, Elliot Kastner,
Joni Evans, John Tishman, Jerry Inzerillo, David Hirsch with Paul
Healy, Mike
Strohl; Dennis Hoff with David Hirshey and Jeff
Stone, George Malkemus with Andre Leon Talley, and
at my table: Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel. If the walls
had ears, oh the
stories they’d have to tell ...
And on yesterday’s lunch and dinner roster at Swifty’s: William
and
Deeda Blair with Marguerite Littman and Pierre
Durand, Prince Firyal, Marife
Hernandez and Joel Bell, Shelley and David Mortimer with Kathy and Billy
Rayner, Alexandra Lind Rose, Emilia Fanjul, Wendy Vanderbilt, Grace Meigher,
Wendy Breck,
Pauline Pitt, Dominick Dunne, Father Pete Jacobs, Judy Ciara, Arlene Dahl and
Marc Rosen, Clarissa Bronfman, Lorna Graev.
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At
last year's Fete de Swifty
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Late yesterday afternoon the founding committee of the Fete
de Swifty met for
the final time before the 2nd annual Fete de Swifty which takes place next Monday
night under the tent that will cover the whole block of East 73rd Street between
Lexington and Third Avenues.
The Fete was the creation of Liz Smith who wanted to find a way to raise money
for the Parks After-School Program for the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New
York City. When she celebrated her 80th a couple of years ago, she asked people
to give something to the city rather than a gift to her. The response was overwhelming
and she realized that the funds could help some worthy programs, especially for
kids after-school whose parents are working and who have no place to go before
the end of the workday. So, with that in mind, she enlisted a lot of us in launching
this wonderful project.
This year’s Honorary Chairman is Nicole Kidman who personally
contributed $25,000 to the fund. Co-chairs (all of whom contributed at least
$50,000 to the
fund are Dan and Cynthia Lufkin, Tom Quick, Bill Rondina, and Christine
and Steve
Schwarzman. Many others have also given their time, their love and their
money
and we’re going into the event, having sold more tickets and raised more
money than the first year.
It’s a great party, a block party really, that brings out a big crowd,
with all kinds of fun entertainment, open bars, fabulous buffets, live and silent
auctions, music, dancing and lots of neighbors from all over New York and even
the country, and of course the Mayor makes an appearance to support the cause.
The party runs from 6 to 9. You can still get tickets at the door at $350 each,
$125 for “junior” tickets (under 35). Attire is “festive” and
for more information you can call 212-573-6933. See you at the Fete!
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Gigi
and Harry Benson |
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Last
night in New York was promotion and book party night from
one end of town
to the other. We started out in the Village where Esquire Magazine,
Tentation
(caterers), Aquavit New York, Potel & Cahobt Special Events Catering, and
632 on Hudson (everyone got into the act) hosted a book party for great classic
pop photographer of the
20th century, Harry Benson and his new book Harry Benson’s
America.
Harry’s done a lot of books and taken thousands of fascinating pictures
of at least hundreds of fascinating people and some people think this may just
be his greatest book. He came to this country (from the UK) accompanying the
Beatles on their initial visit to America. The visit turned out to be a sensation
and opened Harry’s eyes and connections to the world of celebrity.
They held the party at 632 on Hudson, a restored five-story townhouse that is
often used for big fashion and promotional events. About 300 rsvp’d including
Harry and his wife Gigi’s daughter Tessa, an editor for SELF magazine who
flew in from Los Angeles.
In the big crowd of guests: Charlotte Ronson, Marina Rust,
Alex Kramer, Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, Sophie Dahl and Daniel Baker, Liz Cohen,
Vanessa Hayden, Caroline
Lloyd, Honor and John Brodie, Laura Poretzky, Anoushka Benson, Tara Peters, Eleanor
Lembo Ylvisaker, Eric Cahan, Katie Zorn, and Doug Hand. Daughter Wendy
and her
husband Michael Landes and their new baby Mimi couldn’t
be there as they
are off to London for the premiere of Michael’s new BBC-TV television series “Love
Soup” which premieres
September 27th.
Also on hand: Susan Lloyd, Ann Dexter Jones, Elaine Kaufman,
Helen Gurley and David Brown (who are pictured in the book), Sharon
King Hoge, Deborah Aaronson, Laurie Bodor, Kathy Irwin, Shirley King, Kathy and
Billy Rayner,
Jay McInerney with Anne Hearst, Suzanne and Lou Pemberton, Dr.
Howard Bellin, Barbara Nevins and Nick Taylor, Frankie Wolfson, Susan White,
Lisa Berman, Harold
Reed, Sheila and Jean Jacques Naudet, as well as Gigi’s Texan
friends Lynn
Crystal, Fredda and Jay Harris, Suzanne Maas, Stanley Zareff, Kathleen Kennedy,
and Dr. Nelson Donegan and Abrams editor-in-chief Eric
Himmel all celebrated
Harry’s new book which charts Harry’s
forty-year journey through American culture since his arrival in 1964 with the
Beatles. Dapper CEO Nicolas Daeppen of the American division
of the incomparable
200-year-old French-owned catering company, Tentation Potel & Chabot, created
the
most sumptuous fare for the party. |
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Helen
Gurley Brown and David Brown with Gina de Franco and
Nina Sunden
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Francine
Lloyd,
Ann Jones, and Susan Lloyd
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Sharon
Hoge, Stanley Zareff, and Kathleen Kennedy
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Vanessa
Hayden, Bonnie Hayden, and Tessa Benson
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Anne
Hearst and Jay McInerney
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Harry
Benson and Marina Rust
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Renee
and Richard Steinberg
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The
scene from the roof
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Michael
Gross
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Harry
Benson, Elaine Kaufman, and friend
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Charlotte Ronson
and Shoshanna Gruss
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From
the Benson party we hopped a cab over to Greenwich and Charles Streets
and
the Weiss Studio where Donna Karan and model, designer and photographer Lynn
Kohlman were hosting a book party for Lynn’s new book of photography Lynn
Front to Back which tells the story of the recovery from and triumph over
cancer.
The Weiss Studio belonged to Karan’s late husband Stephen Weiss,
which
he used as an artist’s studio for his sculpture as well as for his motorcycle
collection. JH, who is looking for a new apartment, took one
look around and
commented: “this is what I had in mind.” Big, tall, wide, beautiful
space. We attended a DIFFA party there a couple of years ago and they seated
several hundred comfortably at dinner. We were there long enough to photograph
the hostess and the author/photographer and some of their friends. They expected Larissa,
Dayle Haddon, Chris Heinz, Katie Ford, Stephen Burrows, Patricia Field, Padma
Lakshmi, Hope Atheron, Gregg Bello, Sandra Brant, Ingrid Sischy, Alva Chinn,
Darryl Kerrington, and Ric Pipino. |
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Alva
Chinn, Donna Karan, and Lynn Kohlman
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Anita
Bitton, Freddy Leiba, and Maria Snyder
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Maria
Santoro and Ranjana Khan
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| Clockwise
from top left: Deborah Hughes; The scene outside
and inside Donna Karan's Weiss studio; Lynn Front to
Back,
click
to order. |
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| NYSD's
Jeff Hirsch who has sold his apartment, which he needs
to vacate by October 1, is looking for a light and spacious
Manhattan rental (a loft would be ideal) for himself
and his faithful, perfectly trained and well-behaved
four-legged companion Oliver Dog, open to convenient
(to transportation) locations for a monthly $3500 or
under. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions will
be greatly appreciated. Contact him: jeff@newyorksocialdiary.com. |
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From
the Weiss studio we hopped another cab to the Carolina Herrera store on 75th
and Madison where Mrs. Herrera was hosting a party for Patricia
Wexler and
the launch of her skin care line.
Dr. Wexler, if you didn’t know, is one of New York’s most prominent
dermatologists and although I’d never met her before, she has a reputation
far and wide for “her technique and touch with state of the art procedures,” and
therefore the list of names, boldfaced, stellar and fashionable, who swear by
her, worship at her altar and visit her every time they’ve been out in
the sun for more than five minutes, or got a boo-boo or fell on a potato chip
read’s like a Who’s Who of the Western World.
Carolina’s invitation of course brought out many of the stellar and the
boldfaced, not to mention the rich, the chic and the shameless. For example,
the New York Observer’s intrepid reporter George Gurley was
there (as was
his beautiful mother Katherine Bryan). George is currently attending “couples
therapy” sessons with his very charming girlfriend Hilary Heard.
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Universal
Anti-Aging Solution kit by Patricia Wexler M.D.
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I’m not
quite sure what motivated this move – maybe talk of marriage
or maybe George trying to dream up the dream assignment – but I know about
it because a lot of other people know about it because George is, as is his wont
with just about everything in his life, writing about it in weekly installments
in the Observer. But that’s another story – George’s
and Hilary’s.
I’ll withhold my opinion (which is strong and practically inarguable anyway)
on the whole process, although I hope Hilary gets a dream assignment of some
kind out of it too. |
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The
crowd at the Carolina Herrera store
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Meanwhile,
Dr. Wexler: everyone was given a gift box of
the Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology Starter Kit which is currently
available in better stores nationwide (according to the card
in the kit). These packages always fascinate me because when
I get one I think maybe there’s something in it for
me. Then I read
the labels on the tubes: Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser (with MMP). Resurfacing
Microbrasion System Step 1: Skin Resurfacing Cream with MMP. Resurfacing Microbrasion
System Step 2: Intensive Hydrator with MMP. Universal Anti-Aging Moisturizer
SPF 30 with MMP. MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum (professional strength) (?). Deep
Wrinkle Eye Repair MMP. And then I think of how I pride myself in being
able to shower, shave, wash my hair and be out of the bathroom and dressed and
out
the door in under seven minutes. And how if I took any longer I’d be chronically
later than I already am. But I have to admit that when I think about the Deep
Wrinkle Eye Repair, I do pause. And I wonder: is that possible? And: will I ever
know? Answer: And shower, shave, wash hair, dress and be out the door in under
seven? I don’t think so.
However, I am not the customer Dr. Wexler is looking for or could even care a
whit about. In fact, from what I’ve heard about Dr. Wexler, she’s
already got her customer, lined up, zipped up, tied up, locked up and following
like the loyal anti-aging, no deep wrinkle, resurfaced microabrasioned (professional
strength) gang that they are. And besides, they know more than I do about it. |
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Patricia
Wexler
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Patricia
Wexler with her daughter and Christie Brinkley and Peter
Cook
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Wafah
Dufour and Philip Von Hessen
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Calvin
Klein and Kelly Klein
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Emilia
Fanjul and Serena Boardman
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Carolina
Herrera, Carolyne Roehm, and Katherine Bryan
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Reinaldo
Herrera
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Lauren
Davis and George Gurley
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