Social Diary 10/18/05 - Autumn in New York. A full moon over Manhattan.

Line 'em up ...

Ducks by the Pond in Central Park. Photo: JH.

Autumn in New York. A full moon over Manhattan, streets freshly cleaned from the week of the rains.

Jay Johnson. Click image to order Jed Johnson: Opulent Restraint.

We went first over to the apartment of Barbaralee Diamonstein and Carl Spielvogel for the new book Jed Johnson; Opulent Restraint/Interiors (Rizzoli). The book charts the fascinating career of the acclaimed interior decorator/designer whose life was cut short in 1996 by the disastrous explosion of TWA Flight 800 over Long Island. The book contains a series of essays about Jed by publisher Sandra Brant, Bob Colacello, interior designer Arthur Dunnam and Jed’s twin Jay Johnson.

Jed and his brother grew up in Minnesota and hit New York in the 1970s during the enormous cultural changes taking place and the huge influence of Andy Warhol. It was through Warhol that Jed found his professional direction and eventually a career which placed him right at the top of his profession. He was a very handsome, quiet man, very modest in bearing almost to the point of shyness (although he was not shy). Flight 800 tragically cut short a brilliant career.

After the disaster, a memorial was held at the Ethical Culture Society on Central Park West. Several hundred, maybe a thousand people showed up for the service. Their presence alone was an amazing tribute to a young man who had come to the big town, made a career and established a connection with so many admiring, loving and respectful friends and acquaintances. Jay has been the owner & president of Jed Johnson Associates since Jed's death.

Clockwise from above left: Photo booth photograph of Jay, Susan, and Jed Johnson at Studio 54, 1978; Jay and Jed Johnson with their mother, Vivian, California, 1961; The Johnson twins on the beach in Montauk, Long Island, 1971; Studio portrait of Jay and Jed Johnson, 1970; Andy Warhol, Jed, and Jay Johnson at the Factory, 1969. Photographs courtesy of Jed Johnson: Opulent Restraint (Rizzoli).

It’s a beautiful book, full of beautiful images of Jed’s work for another of his clients including Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, Andy Warhol, Pierre Berge, the Spielvogels, Sandra and Peter Brant, Brooke and Daniel Neidich, and Maureen and Marshall Cogan.

Tom Cashin, Joanne Cassullo, and Brian Saltzman

Beth DeWoody and Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel

Carl Spielvogel and Liz Newman

Paul Goldberger, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, and Senga Mortimer

Susan, Vivian, and Jay Johnson with Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel

Jay Johnson and Charles Miers

Ella Cisneros and Heidi Neuhof

Joanne Cassullo and Micky Wolfson

From the Spielvogels JH and I went down to the East Fifties near Beekman Place and the penthouse apartment of British Consul Sir Philip Thomas who was holding a fund-raising reception for the Gotham Chamber Opera. The company presents “vibrant, intimate productions small-scale works” that opera lovers are unlikely to see in the big houses. Their repertoire goes from the Baroque era to the present and are generally operas which are overlooked in today’s traditional opera houses.

In February 2006, for example, they are producing Benjamin Britten’s only comic opera “Albert Herring” conducted by the company’s Artistic Director and Conductor, Neal Goren and directed by David Schweizer. The company has a big group of devoted backers including Peter and Brooke Duchin who often hold fund-raising receptions at their loft as well as Lou Miano, Karen Lerner, Asher and Michelle Edelman, Johnny Moore, Peter Vaughn, all board members of the company.

Matt Morgan singing at last night's musicale

Last night’s reception included two performances in the midst of the crowd of guests, followed by cocktails and a crowd around the buffet table of hors d’oeuvres.

Sharon Hoge, Charlie Scheips, Steve Henry, and Philip

Jean Bach and Cathy Hardwick

L. to r.: Peter Duchin; Carl and Christine Bernstein with Matt Morgan; Anita Sarko.

Lou Miano and Brooke Hayward Duchin

Domna Stanton, Ted Porter, and Karen Lerner

DPC and Alexandra Penney

From there I hopped a cab up to The Frick which was holding its annual autumn black-tie dinner with guests of honor, the 12th Duke of Devonshire and his duchess. This evening’s theme was “A Celebration of Collecting: Chatsworth.” Proceeds from the event will support a full range of programs offered by The Frick Collection. The dukes of Devonshire have been devoted for centuries to the preservation of their celebrated and historic great English country house which has long inspired private collectors and museums all over the world. Indeed, Henry Clay Frick visited Chatsworth at the turn of the 20th century and it had a profound influence on his choices in building his houses and eventually his Fifth Avenue museum where we were all present last night.

This particular benefit usually draws about 250 guests but this year they had such a great level of interest that they filled the place and for the first time set up two long tables in the museum’s green gallery. This year’s honorary chair was retired Frick director Charles Ryskamp and co-chaired by Mary Stone Phipps and Christine Hearst Schwarzman. The Dinner Committee included W. Mark Brady, Minturn Chace, Brooke and Peter Duchin, Mrs. Henry Clay Frick II, Nathalie Kaplan, Martha Loring, Thierry Millerand, Howard Phipps, Katherine and Billy Rayner, John Richardson, Marianna and Juan Sabater, George Wachter, and Isabel Stainow Wilcox.

It was a very fancy evening, with a very special feeling, which all Frick events produce. There is a distinguished, yet cozy air about the place, which may be one of the reasons why it is one of New York’s most popular secrets. When you enter The Frick you immediately adjust to its stellar, impeccable yet calming atmosphere and it is a thorough pleasure to behold and to be present. I was going on to a dinner in someone’s home so I spent my brief stay going around taking photos of some of the illustrious guests. The Duke and the Duchess were at the head of the reception line just inside the main entrance of the Collection. The duke who inherited only last year, is Peregrine Andrew Morny Cavendish, without his title, and it was interesting to watch them receive their guests who were quite pleased and proud to be meeting them. The duke and the duchess, however, were just as pleased to be meeting the guests and so the admiration and pleasure was obviously entirely mutual.

Just as they were about to sit for dinner, I withdrew and galloped down the avenue where I was expected for dinner. A lovely night.