Quest April 2012

T R BE AL

$5.00 APRIL 2012

Y LE D A H ED ER B M E M E R

THE

REAL ESTATE REVIVAL

ENTRANCE TO THE HIGH LINE

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5BR renov w hi qual workmanship in McKim, Mead & White bldg. 14’ ceils, light, 2 WBFPs & state-of-art sys. $22M. Web #1294505. C.Eland 212-452-4384

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A.Lambert 212-452-4408 /M.Achilles 212 452 4396

LR, libr, MBR on the East River. FDR, 4MBRs, 5 bths, EIK, 2 staff rms, FS bldg w gym. $7.395M. Web #1295394.

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2 terrs: 65’ terr on 19th flr, 45’ terr on 20th, oversized LR w WBFP, FDR, pwdr, kit, lrg MBR, 2 add’l BRs, 3 enste bths. $2.3M.Web#1293485.E.Sheppard212-452-4430

Parlor, LR, gazebo, DR, kitchen, 2BRs, 1 bth, 3rd flr MBR suite, bth & kitchenette. $2.475M. Web # 1295534.

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Built in 1903, updtd for today’s living. 10' ceills. 2 MBRs, 2 bths, 24-hr drooman. Pets ok. $1.19M. Web #1288451.

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White Glove 2BR Prewar Co-op

Renov Rosario Candela SPS 1BR Co-op

Sunny hi flr w WBFP, hi ceils, W/D, wine cave. FS E 68th co-opw50%fin,gym,grdn.$1.395M.Web#1295945.

A.Hall 212-452-4421/C.Van Amburg 646-613-2683

Generous & sun-filled home w 2BRs & 2 baths. Wood floors, moldings & built-ins. Sublets okay. $1.299M. Web #1293799. J.Sacks & R.Brown 212-585-4539

Classicallyrenovated2BR,2bath,LR/DR,eat-inkitchen wW/D.Quiet&nicelight.IdeallylocatedonEast72nd. $1.325M. Web #1294858. M.Scott 212-585-4564

W/Eexpos,prwrdtls,hiceils.CrnrLRwWBFP;renovkit, wndwd bth. Roof terr, lndry, gym. Bldg assess $125/mo. $750K.Web#1291516.J.VertulloMaher212-452-4363

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1 CPW Boundless Park Views Exquisitelyrenov3BR,3.5bthcondowCPvusfreveryrm.

FSbldgwconcierge,JeanGeorgermserv,gym,spa,pool, parking.$11.5M.Web#1295463.I.Wade212-452-4439

18' Renov Central Harlem Brownstone

Gorgeous Riverside Drive Prewar 3 Bedroom with Views

4flrswext,6-7BRs,4WBFPs,chef’sEIK,5f/2hbths,pvt grdn+2terrs.Appx4000sf.Ownr’strplxw/incorsinglefam.$2.75M.Web#1296508.C.Taub212-452-4387

Triple mint renovation. Huge picture wndws. Living room, dining room and 3 bedrooms face Riverside Park.

Stunning eat-in kitchen, 3 full baths, renovated staff room/office. Exceptional. $4.45M. Web #1296008.

Cathy Taub 212-452-4387

Tribeca Dietz Lantern Condo Splendor

Chelsea Townhouse Treasure

Bright 2BR, 2.5 Bth Dplx Condo on W 23rd

Chelsea Condo Parlor 2 Bedroom

Doublecrnr3BR/2.5bth.LR/DRwWBFP&Crestronsys, MBRwbth&WIC,lndry.Expobrick,columns,steeldoor. $5,999,999. Web #1294551. S.Wires 646-613-2653

Landmark 21 ft, 2-family w 2 gardens & period features. Delivered vacant. $4.995M. Web #1294313.

J.Vass 646-613-2785/V.Osborne 646-613-2728

Kitwtopapplis&W/D.Solarmwskylights.Grdnwirrig sys.Radiantflrs,LEDfixtures.CAC.NrHiLine.$2.295M. Web #1294711. Maureen McCarron 212-570-2440

All day sun, 11 ft ceilings, WBFP, central AC, W/D. Pets ok. Double stoop 1873 façade. Tree-lined street. $1.45M. Web #1294332. P.Browne 646-613-2718

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Mary Rutherfurd 212-906-9211 Ann Jeffery 212-906-9232

UES. Co-Excl. Newly renov magnificent sun drenched 5BR, 6.5 bath, Renaissance Revival mansion with elevator, South facing garden, 2 terraces & roof deck. $24.3M. WEB# 1221233.

Cathy Franklin 212-906-9236 Alexis Bodenheimer 212-906-9230

CPW. Only duplex in 1 CPW. Sitting on the 49th and 50th floorss with 4,266SF and 4BR, 4.5 baths. Gorgeous Western exposure of the river. Triple mint. 5- star service. $18M. WEB# 1557703.

Kyle Blackmon 212-588-5648

PENTHOUSE DUPLEX W/1,900SF TERRACES

ELEGANT PREWAR CONDO

GRAND 7 ROOM ON PARK AVENUE

Chelsea. Dramatic apartment with 3BR and 3.5 baths, LR w/20’ ceils, open chef’s kitchen, gas FP, oversized MBR with private balcony, direct river views, pets OK. $7.25M. WEB# 1541344.

Nancy Candib 212-906-9302 Dominic R. Paolillo 212-906-9307

UWS. Rare, meticulously restored prewar 9 room. Approx 3,400SF, 3-4BR, 4 baths, chef’s EIK, orig details throughout, city & river view, FS condo, high floor. $6.4M. WEB# 1735181.

Lisa Lippman 212-588-5606 Scott Moore 212-588-5608

East 60s/Park Ave. 7 Room, 3BR apt on high flr where all major rooms face E over Park Ave. Grand gallery. LR w/wbfp, elegant DR. Libr & kit have open views W. $5.4M. WEB# 1528941.

Edith F. Tuckerman 212-906-9228 Katharine Tuckerman 212-906-9222

4BR CARNEGIE CLASSIC

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UES. Triple mint, sun-flooded home with city views, CAC, Crestron, 10’ ceilings, new hdwd floors, 2 fireplaces, new oversized windows, huge eat-in kitchen, laundry room, FS Co-op. $3.195M. WEB# 1551795.

Marie Bingham 212-588-5654

Brooklyn Heights. Upside attainable in prime Brooklyn Heights mixed use building available first time in 40+ years. Rest in ground floor + 3 free market 2BR apts – 2 are under market, 1 just renovated. $2.299M. WEB# 1535366.

Nicholas Palance 212-396-5873

East 80s/Fifth Avenue. Renovated 2BR, 2 marble baths with windows and wrap terrace.

Sunny and bright. Built-in living rm speakers.

W/D. Maintenance includes util. Fitness room and garage. $2.8M. WEB# 1543450.

Cheryl Bassin 212-906-9201

Leslie Coleman

Kathy Cooper

Marilyn Corradini

Deborah Gimelson

Joan Goldberg

Joanne Greene

Adrienne Gratry

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pa l m b e a c h

All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice.

All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker.

Julia Hoagland

Lisa Lippman

PARK-FRONT CLASSIC 9 ON CPW

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West 60s/CPW. Grand 9-room home 50’ fronting Central Park. Gracious layout.

Magnificent prewar architectural details.

31’ entertaining expanse. FS Co-op built 1910. $11.5M. WEB# 1564406.

John Burger 212-906-9274

Fifth Avenue. Very European style, each floor a single family home. 13 room into 10. Fabulous views of Central Park and Reservoir, 3 wood burning fireplaces. $10.6M. WEB# 1555479.

Frosty Montgomery 212-588-5655 David Anderson 212-588-5818

West 15th Street. Wonderful potential single family conversion, or live in the 4,000+ feet owner’s garden triplex with $180,000 of income from 3 free market luxury rentals. $7.5M. WEB# 1272354.

David Kornmeier 212-588-5642

Steven Marvisch

Laura D. Milkowski

Dominic R. Paolillo

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CPS. Stunning 3BR, 3 bath apartment overlooking Central Park at the renowned Essex House. Perfect layout for entertaining and for family living. $4.975M. WEB# 1548950.

Ogden P. Starr 212-452-6213

CPW. Mint condition 2BR, 2.5 bath layout with Western views and 10’ ceilings. World class amenities, maid service, health club with pool and much more. $4.195M. WEB# 1548276.

Ileen Schoenfeld 212-396-5878 Aracely Moran 212-588-5649

Fifth Avenue. An enchanting ‘big small’ maisonette with perfectly scaled high ceilinged rooms in the most prestigious Candela prewar Co-op. Food service.

4 rooms. $3.5M. WEB# 1559532.

Caroline E. Y. Guthrie, ELC Div 212 396-5858

Stephanie Rappoport

Jill Roosevelt

Mary Rutherfurd

SUTTON HOUSE

A RARE OXFORD GEM

PRIME MAISONETTE DUPLEX

East 52nd Street. 3BR, 3 bath offering big space and large scale rooms in full service building with garage, gym, roof deck, and playroom. Located on quiet cul-de-sac.

Pets OK. $2.495M. WEB# 1225177.

Elese Reid, ELC Div 212-396-5861

East 72nd Street. Sunny, high floor 5 room, 2BR, 2.5 bath corner unit at the fabulous Oxford condo. Beautiful renovation, SE exposure, DR, open river and city views. $1.825M. WEB# 1558893.

Stewart Clarke 212-317-3644

East 79th Street. Stylish 6 room maisonette duplex with access to garden. Townhouse feel, attractive built-ins and wbfp. 2BR, 2.5 updated baths, office/guest room, possible live/work. $1.495M. WEB# 1541375.

Jane Cannon, ELC Div 212-396-5855

new york city

the hamptons

pa l m b e a c h

All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice.

All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker.

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104

114

CONTENTS 110

THE R EAL E STATE R EVIVAL 88

A WALK ON THE WEST SIDE

The High Line, located 30 feet above

the Meatpacking District, provides its visitors with an escape from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

94

REAL ESTATE’S RENAISSANCE

BY

S TEFAN DOYNO

Quest consults experts about developments within

the housing market given the improving economy. The panel discusses the trends of domestic versus foreign buyers and the state of the supply.

104

GARDEN VIEWS

BY

J ONATHAN MILLER

Sam Watters, a historian, discovered hundreds of hand-colored slides

from the beginning of the 20th century, providing imagery for the book Gardens for a Beautiful America, 1895-1935. Suddenly, the world looks a little rosier. BY DANIEL CAPPELLO

110

IT’S A BIG SMALL WORLD

The author reflects on his father’s collection of toy trains and

accompanying memorabilia, as was recently on display at Sotheby’s. BY MICHAEL GREENE

114

GREENING DOWNTOWN

The Bowery’s renovation will cater to everyone with art

installations and play spaces and much, much more.

120

A GENTLEMAN AND A SCHOLAR

BY

GEORGINA SCHAEFFER

Friends—personal and professional—remember Albert

Hadley, the interior designer who contributed much.

BY

GEORGINA SCHAEFFER

120

64

144 160

CONTENTS 68

C OLUMNS 24

SOCIAL DIARY

60

SOCIAL CALENDAR

64

HARRY BENSON

Photographing Donald Trump, with some inspiration from Marcello Mastroianni.

66

OBSERVATIONS

Thoughts about politics, and their impact on gender roles. BY TAKI THEODORACOPULOS OPULOS

68

FRESH FINDS

72

CANTEENS

76

QUEST ARCHIVES

78

WE GILT THIS CITY

134

APPEARANCES

136

WHAT THE CHAIRS WEAR

138

YOUNG & THE GUEST LIST

144

SNAPSHOT

Chronicles of the swirling social scene that is Manhattan.

BY

DAVID PATRICK COLUMBIA

Our monthly guide to the best benefits and balls, from New York to Palm Beach.

April showers do, indeed, bring flowers. BY DANIEL CAPPELLO AND ELIZABETH MEIGHER HER

Imoto, a restaurant in Palm Beach delivers asian-fusion fare, tapas-style. BY NANCY ELLISON Gardening expert C.Z. Guest picks the Conservatory Garden for a moment’s peace.

An interview about the new book By Invitation Only.

BY

ELIZABETH QUINN BROWN

Our society editor visits Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion for a benefit. BY HILARY R GEARY RY R RY The Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball.

Our reporter parties with the junior set.

BY

BY

KAREN KLOPP

ELIZABETH QUINN BROWN OWN

Olmstead’s “Greensward Plan” that has become Central Park. BY GEORGINA SCHAEFFER

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Clockwise from top left: this view from the Great Lawn to downtown is one of my favorites while walking in the park in the morning; Albert Hadley’s “Self-Portraits” with “Time for Change!” written in the corner served as a call to arms for me this month; the soon-to-be built SeaGlass carousel at The Battery is an exciting new urban project.

“ADAPT THE PACE OF NATURE, her secret is patience.”— Ralph Waldo Emerson. I came across this quote and it gave me pause. In our often maddening world of texting and tweeting, I sometimes think we are going to fast; that somewhere along the way, we are losing our ability to pause, to think, to see—perhaps more catastrophically, to enjoy. Which is why I wanted to dedicate a part of this issue to an interesting phenomenon I am witnessing. At the same time that we can barely take our eyes off our emails, there seems to be a genuine craving for the common experience and creating a common ground. I remember back when I was fresh out of college, two young men speaking at a friend’s house about an abandoned elevated railway that they wanted to save (most people had never heard of the project).

This is now a well-reported story, but the High Line served, as landscape architect Thomas Woltz told me, as a lightning rod for other projects around the city. Whether it’s an urban farm or a green rooftop, people crave that human connection to the earth and to one another now, I think, more than ever.

Another major trend we are observing over here at our office is the genuine up-tick in the real estate market. Quest was founded as a real estate magazine 25 years ago, and we will always report on the state of the market. No one knows if the economic recovery is real or not, but with the U.S. and European markets stabilizing and trending upwards, the general outlook is notably sunnier that it has been in a long time. So we asked nine real estate industry leaders to tell us what they think is really going on with their business, and we think you’ll be interested in what they have to say.

There are loads of human interest stories in this issue too, from Michael Greene’s piece on his family’s unique collection of historic toys, known as “The Jerni Collection,” to Lizzie Brown’s Q. & A. with the Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Alexis Maybank of online shopping empire Gilt Groupe. Neither the collection nor company could have ever existed without the passion and conviction of the people behind them.

Finally, we honor Albert Hadley in this issue. His prolific body of work as an interior designer has come to define 22 QUEST

20th-century design and will, in the years to come, show how we lived. As the news spread that the “Dean of Design” had passed away, an entire community reacted (my Facebook news feed buzzed with tributes, article posts, etc.). I couldn’t help but be reminded that Mr. Hadley always stopped work at five o’clock and had a gin (a schedule I think he inherited from Mrs. Brown at McMillen, based on what I’ve read in the New York Times). Now I doubt that I will ever be able to stop working at five sharp every day, but I can turn off my phone now and again, and I think you should too. Do one thing a week in the city that makes it exciting to live here.

Pick something that’s on your to-do list—a museum show, a Broadway musical. There is so much to do in New York and springtime is the best time to do it (and what a spring we’re having!). Go for a walk on the High Line or walk through the gardens at the Battery. If you need something to smile about, just head to Central Park because, as Emerson also said, “The earth laughs in flowers.” Happy Easter! u

Georgina Schaeffer ON THE COVER: The entrance to the High Line in the Meatpacking District, New York City. Gansevoort Slow Stair, corner of Gansevoort Street and Washington Street, looking north. © Iwan Baan, 2009. Photo courtesy of the Friends of the High Line.

®

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A

David Patrick Columbia

NEW YORK SO CIAL DIARY WELL, SPRING IS finally here—officially—although winter never really showed up.

April showers usually bring May flowers but, this year, March did the job.

Nevertheless, the social calendar of New York was set accordingly. The first days of the New Year are always

quieter, as the denizens slow down and those who can take a break do so, heading south for fun in the sun or west for fun on the slopes.

The month of March is when the natives start to get restless and need to get out and about. For young New Yorkers, there will always be

downtown, but for the older crowd there’s the country on the weekend…or Palm Beach…or the Caribbean. For the rest of us, there’s dinner and a movie. And then begin those black-tie nights when the city that never sleeps begins to swing again.

The unseasonal weather

of early 2012 provided many beautiful days and lovely nights. New Yorkers love to go out, meet and greet, and enjoy the dynamic energy of the city.

Thursday, March 1: cold and raining, lightly but steadily. It was enough to make me decide to stay in for the evening.

C A R N I VA L E ! AT T H E S O C I E T Y O F T H E FO U R A R TS I N PA L M B E AC H

Rand and Jesse Araskog

Tom and Melinda Hassen with Peggy and Dudley Moore 24 QUEST

Anna and Bill Mann

Lesly Smith and James Walsh

Mary and Marvin Davidson

Harry Elson with Susie and Edward Elson

LU C I E N C A P E H A RT

Joyce and Bob Sterling

New York • Hamptons • Palm Beach

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A T H E A M E R I C A N M U S E U M O F N AT U R A L H I STO R Y ’ S A N N UA L D A N C E

Gillian and Sylvester Miniter

Out in Southampton over at the Parrish Art Museum on the following Saturday was an opening reception for the “EST-3: Southern California in New York” exhibition with Los Angeles art from Beth Rudin DeWoody’s collection.

The evening included a screening and a conversation with Mrs. DeWoody. The party was fabulous and jammed with people. It felt just like summer.

Beth and I have known each other since she was a kid just out of college. She has always had an eye for collecting. She collected old sheet music among other things back then, for example. In the 26 QUEST

Matt and Linette Semino

Ellen Futter and Steve Sadove

Allison Mignone and Peter Lyden

Melissa and Carney Hawks

Andrew and Zibby Right

David Chines and Wallis Dolan

’70s, the world “collectibles” came into the parlance, and Beth had a natural eye for it.

Then, her mother Gladyce moved to Los Angeles and started collecting California art with her husband, David Begelman. One thing led to another. What at the onset looked like a penchant and an eye for interesting and artful things was the genesis of a passion.

Collectors are a breed. I mean the real ones. It’s like a calling for them. I’ve watched it become that for Beth over the years. Her collection now is vast and ongoing. It’s hers though it has taken on its own life. I don’t know if she

knows that, as we’ve never discussed it. But it has. The exhibition at the Parrish was, to me, confirmation. As well as I’ve known her, I never knew about this one fabulous aspect of her collection.

Monday, March 5. A very cold night in New York—in the 20s! Kind of a surprise considering how mild the weather has been.

There was a lot going on around town. Over at the Copacabana on West 47th Street, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams hosted the 27th annual Women’s Project’s Women of Achievement Gala Celebration. In attendance were best-selling author

Barbara Goldsmith, Thia Breen (president of North America for the Estée Lauder Companies), and Cornelia Guest (animal activist, philanthropist, and businesswoman).

Women’s Project is the offBroadway theater company that produces work written and directed by women.

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A at the International Center of Photography for Crystal McCrary and her new book Inspiration Profiles of Black Women Changing Our World (Abrams Books). Several of the women who were saluted in the book also attended: Iman, Thelma Golden, Whoopi Goldberg, Ruby Dee, ABT ballerina Misty Copeland, Gayle King, Bethann Hardison, Susan Taylor, Soledad O’Brien, ambassador Nicole Avant, Majora Carter, Debra Lee, and Raven Symone Wednesday, March 7.

Sunny and bright and cold in New York. A full moon over Manhattan.

Over at F.A.O. Schwarz, the

Society of Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center was hosting its 21st annual Bunny Hop. This is Kids’ Night Out extraordinaire, and it’s funny and cute just to watch. (At least if you’re not a parent.)

I don’t know what the kids themselves are thinking because it’s a lot to take in for a little one—kind of like what going to the circus used to be for kids way back when.

The co-chairs for the evening were Kate Doerge, Chiara Edmands, Blair Hussain, and Palmer O’Sullivan. Proceeds benefited a pledge to raise $2 million over the next five years for the Pediatric Family Housing Endowment, which pays for overnight stays at

nearby accommodations for children who are receiving treatment at the hospital and are unable to afford the expense.

Meanwhile, on the Upper East Side just down the block from Central Park, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld hosted an opening for Parisian artist Nicholas Pol at 22 East 71st Street. The exhibition is entitled “Neverlodge.”

I didn’t make the reception but I heard they were expecting a stellar crowd with such notables (to those in the know) as: Larry Gagosian, Carine Roitfeld, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Maria Bell, Serge Azria, Alexander Acquavella, Henry Allsopp,

Corice Arman, William Bell, Fabiola Beracasa, Attilio Brillembourg, Ginevra Caltagirone, Liliana Cavendish, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Nick Cohen, Simon de Pury, Sante D’Orazio, Alexia Elkaim, Eric Eisner and Stacey Bendet Eisner, Richard Evans, Honor Fraser, and H.R.H. Princess Firyal of Jordan.

Mr. Roitfeld had transformed the palatial house into “a den of standardized iniquity”—Pol’s new body of work exists in a realm where sin and forbidden fantasies have been commoditized as “carnivalesque.” Part brothel, part ticketed amusement park…” OK? (You probably

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A had to be there.)

I started out the night at Doubles where Lewis Frumkes of the Hunter College Writing Center and Jennifer Raab, president of Hunter College, were hosting a dinner honoring Nilma and Meg Wolitzer and celebrating the second anniversary of the Writing Center.

This was a festive affair of writers and their associates, devotees, fans, friends, and supporters which included

Bruce Jay Friedman, Denise LeFrak and her husband, John Colicchio, Barbara Taylor Bradford and her husband, producer Bob Bradford, Iris Love, Nelson DeMille, Barbara Lazear Ascher, Mary and Carol Higgins Clark, Tina Flaherty, Erica Jong, Betty Kelly Sargent, Ben Cheever, Daphne Merkin, sculptress Elizabeth Strong de Cuevas, Jeannette Watson and Alex Sanger, Joan and John Jakobson, Helen

Houghton, Bel Kaufman (celebrating her centenary), Alana Frumkes and daughter Amber, Cristina Alger (author of the newly published Darlings, Sharon Hoge, Mario Buatta, Ann Radich, Susan Barash, Jim Simons of Renaissance Technologies, Joanie Danielides, Barbara Goldsmith, and Rita Goldberg.

Wednesday, March 15. It was in the 70s in New York.

Unseasonably warm, we

used to say. Now maybe it’s seasonably norm. I was invited to a concert at Carnegie Hall: “The Music of the Rolling Stones: Hot Rocks 1964– 1971.” It was part of Carnegie Hall’s “Tribute” series that producer Michael Dorf has been bringing about. Other installments have included the music of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Neil Sedaka, R.E.M., The Who, and Neal Young. He’s also organized

J A N N A B U L L O C K C E L E B R AT E D I N T E R N AT I O N A L W OM E N ’ S D AY AT H E R “A L L EG O R I E S A N D E X P E R I E N C E S ” E X H I B I T I O N

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for Central Park Summerstage with the music of Simon & Garfunkel.

My friend Kathy and I both came of age on this music. And music always takes us some place else—it can be nostalgic.

The program promised to do this, and it delivered! As soon as it began, we were all back there, somewhere else in those days, those times. Except, of course, we were in Carnegie Hall, the lot of us, packed right up through the fourth balcony.

Because it was a rock concert, people dressed very casually— more casually than some of us would. And because the place was filled with rock fans, there were a lot of bald and balding 32 QUEST

Adelina Wong Ettelson and Holly Hunt

boys in the audience, and they were into it.

The performers were fabulous, playing 21 songs from the Stones’ songbook.

Having grown up with that music, I still think of it as strictly theirs, the Stones’. I mean, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” or “19th Nervous Breakdown”?

Some of these performers weren’t even alive when the albums first came out. Funny.

Didn’t matter.

Kathy had heard that Mick Jagger was in town. We wondered if he were in the audience. I wondered what he would have felt, seeing others perform his songs, giving them their shade, and

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Kathleen Kocatas and Paula del Rio

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watching the audience thrill to it all. I mean, Peaches singing “Heart of Stone”— it was hers on this night.

Hers and Mick’s of course.

But brand new. Or Juliette Lewis doing “Satisfaction”?

Hers. In the finale, Mary Ann Faithfull sang “Sister Morphine” (the first song she and Mick wrote).

Twenty-two songs performed, all from the album Hot Rocks 1964–1971, which was first released in 1971. It was the Stones’ first compilation and remains the highest selling release of their career. It was a great way to spend a beautiful almostsummer night in New York in

Janet Gaffney and Kristin Ursano

that real cathedral of talent, genius, and joy.

Wednesday March 14. The Ides of March were upon us. What does that mean? It was Wednesday so it was Michael’s. I was with Felicia Taylor of CNN. Felicia is one of the nicest, most straightforward women in New York. I know, that sounds a bit much, but it’s true.

Because Felicia does a lot of financial reporting, she’s long been interested in how to relate her information to the female audience. A couple of years ago, she came up with an idea for a show about women and their progress in their careers and their lives. The

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A objective was to empower and inspire women to “go for it.”

One night when she was on assignment in London, she was seated next to the head of Omega watches and happened to tell him about it. He loved the idea and told her he’d like to be the sponsor. Today, it’s a global series with an audience from all over the planet. It’s called “Leading Women.”

Each month it profiles two outstanding women: one in a creative or artistic field and one in a more business/ corporate world. There are three co-anchors reflecting the international resonance: Felicia in New York, Kirstie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, and Becky Anderson in London.

It is broadcasted on CNN International with a potential audience in the low hundreds of millions.

The next night: Cynthia and Donald Frank hosted a drinks party for textile designer Sabine de Gunzburg and interior designer Lorenzo Castillo. Sabine lives in Paris and Lorenzo lives in Madrid, although he has a lot of American clients and spends time here.

Cynthia, who works as a contributing editor at Elle Décor, produced the piece on Castillo’s Madrid apartment.

“Twelve pages!” the designer enthused, amazed, while telling me about it. I don’t know if Ms. De Gunzburg is

in the April issue of Elle Décor as well, but Cynthia Frank told me that she loved her designs.

March 20. Spring Equinox.

It was going-out weather.

Over in the East 60s, John Demsey, president of the Estée Lauder Companies (Estée Lauder, MAC, Tom Ford Beauty, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, La Mer, etc.) hosted a “Swim into the Pisces Season” birthday event at his townhouse with Alina Cho and Marilyn Gauthier.

There must have been a hundred guests milling about on two floors as well as in the garden when I arrived at 7 p.m. (the party was scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m.).

Mr. Demsey’s parties are the

kind that people attend and stay at because the house is roomy and comfortable. There were many coming and going but even more partaking in the drinks and the abundance of hors d’oeuvres, not to mention waiting for the more than one birthday cake to be lit, wished upon, and served to the guests.

Meanwhile, over at the Plaza in the Grand Ballroom, the president and trustees of the Asia Society hosted a “Celebration of Asia Week” to benefit the Asia Society with a reception followed by a dinner dance. Dinner chairs for the evening were Betsy and Edward Cohen and Stephanie and John Foster.

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Miranda Wong Tang was the co-chair. Vice-chairs for the evening were Ronnie Chan, Ann and Stephen Curley, Henrietta and Richard Fore, Tom Freston, John J. Mack, Ruth and Harold Newman, and Lulu and Anthony Wang.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Sunshine and clear with temperatures in the low 70s.

The glorious pear trees made their annual debut.

Friday, March 30. Sunny, 36 QUEST

Gina Kravitz, Julie Hayek and Susan Kim

Vessela and James Brickley

partly cloudy, bright, and breezy with temperatures hovering in the 60s.

In Spain, the best upper sets do it/Lithuanians and Letts do it/Let’s do it/Let’s fall in love.—”Let’s Do It”

by Cole Porter That was running through my head probably because several readers have asked why I hadn’t written anything about the royal family in Spain these days. This might have

CeCe Cord

Brett Joshpe and Sharon Bush

been provoked originally by H.R.H. Queen Sofia’s visit to the the Spanish Institute a couple of months ago.

A fascinating detail from that evening was how Xavier Bardem was present, though dressed in a grey suit and open shirt for the black-tie affair. A friend in Spain told me that Bardem may have done that as a kind of “protest” against the Queen because of her attitude about the legality

of gay marriage in Spain.

Evidently, she’s not impressed with the cause and it’s no secret, especially among the gay population.

Stories of the Spanish royals do not possess the same gravitas with Americans that those of the British royals do, probably because we are so enamored with everything Anglophile by culture and habit, as if it is our heritage.

Or the habit of our heritage.

PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A T H E L I N C O L N C E N T E R I N ST I T U T E ’ S L E A D E R S H I P A W A R D S C E L E B R AT I O N

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However, the Spanish royals are older than the British and, except for the interruption of Franco, are from the longest lived royal line in the world, second only to the Japanese.

They are also related to all the other royal families of Europe, often very closely.

Spain has wielded enormous international power in times gone by. It was the Spanish, after all, who made the first real inroads that led to the fatally disrupting of the native inhabitants of the New World with their “conquests” in the 16th century. Columbus sailed the ocean blue for the Spanish Queen Isabella, as every American schoolchild learned 38 QUEST

Ed Koch

Tamar Podell with Joseph and Nancy Missett

Henry Topping with Lisa and David Schiff

early on. And it is that Spanish influence that continues to this day throughout more than half of the Western hemisphere.

In Europe, of course, all of this is understood. Franco restored the monarchy with King Juan Carlos, made official by his death. Many people who came afterward have no recollection of the fascist dictatorship of Generalissimo Franco. For those of us who were around, it was quite a surprise to see the country returned to a monarchy with a young and vital king and queen, their being Juan Carlos and Sofia.

That was almost 40 years ago. The couple now has

grandchildren. They also have a marriage which is widely and publicly thought to be “distant.” The king is said to have been and, perhaps, still is quite the lothario—although, he’s getting up there. As it is with kingly libidos and dogs, their calling cards are often left hither and yon over time.

None of this is remarkable human behavior. In fact, it provides proof of a king being among us mere mortals. It is, however, difficult for a marriage partner to deal with, one way or another—unless he or she has his or her own private interests. Evidently, Queen Sofia did not.

It is well-known in their

Julia Chun and Seth Levin

country (and elsewhere) that back in 1976, the queen walked in on the king having a slap and a tickle one afternoon or evening with a very sexy actress who was famous and much younger than the royal couple. According to legend, that was it for the queen.

Sofia comes with a royal lineage to match that of her husband. No doubt they’re related by a generation or three. Royal matches are just that way. This was true with Elizabeth and Philip, although we also know that Elizabeth was mad for Philip when she was a young teenager and there’s no passion more lasting than that affirmed

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A at a very young age.

Today, Sofia is known in the media as The Loneliest Woman In Spain. It has been said that she spends much of the time in London.

All of this, however, are small troubles for the king and the queen and their family compared to the socioeconomic problems of their country. There were riots recently across the country—labor against the government. Watching it on

video, it occurred to me that we have not seen that kind of rioting in this country since the Vietnam War days. Even then, the Spanish are a fiery, passionate people and can express it freely.

Another irritating and serious factor affecting the Spanish monarchy is the legal problems of a son-inlaw to the king and queen, Inaki Urdangarin (say it aloud, phonetically—it’s quite easy). I am not well-informed

enough to give you the details, but Urdangarin is also known because of his marriage to the royal daughter Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, as the Duke Consort to…

Cristina. This legal matter is a mark against the integrity of the family and, therefore, the monarchy. The results of the investigation of his business practices may exonerate him. Or they may damn his reputation. As it is, there have been rumors, unconfirmed,

that the Duchess Cristina may have known about some of his “mistakes.”

The couple met in Atlanta in 1996 or 1997 at the Olympics. The following year, they married and he was given a royal title. They have several children. More recently, the Duke Consort had a nonprofit business for several years that produced some hefty fees for him, despite its non-profit status.

The fees being paid him

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Debbie Harry and Christopher Makos 40 QUEST

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were also coming from various state agencies. Last February, he spent the weekend giving testimony to investigators about his “non-profit” business. There was an abundance of “can’t remembers” and “I don’t recalls” in his answers. He also blamed certain missing funds as something his former partner did.

All of this comes on the heels of a busted real-estate bubble in Spain, rising unemployment, the now almost universal debtinfested economy, and growing anguish among the citizens about their own futures. Royal figures using their position and connection to profit while 42 QUEST

Gary and Sue Dickson

others are losing their footing is anathema to political stability, as history has explained again and again.

No doubt the Inaki Urdangarin story has affected his marriage as it has affected his place in the royal family’s image. The union is said to be faltering. At the same time, Queen Sofia is said to spend a great majority of her away from her husband where she has family and friends.

Meanwhile, in the royal rumor mill is talk that there were members of the family who lost money on Madoff.

We do know that, through funds like those of Walter Noel and Ezra Merkin, all

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Tom Quick and Ed Eissey

kinds of people across the world sought and had access to the Madoff touch. So it wouldn’t be at all surprising to learn that the King of Spain may have fallen prey to the natural greed that afflicts us all at one point or another.

Aside from these salient matters, King Juan Carlos remains possibly one of the most popular leaders with his people and in Europe. He and his queen reintroduced monarchy with a modern touch that oversaw a prosperous nation moving into the Modern Age while preserving the traditions and folkways of the old. Nevertheless, Spain is confronted with many

Angelo and Ellen Trocchia

of the same problems of indebtedness, inflation, and growing unemployment. The stability of the royal family is crucial to their continuing leadership.

Meanwhile back to the calendar: Monday, April 2. It was a beautiful evening in the city after a warm sunny day.

Down at 583 Park, Save Venice hosted its annual event, “Un Ballo in Maschera; A Night on the Lido.” When Adelina Wong Ettelson, one of the cochairs, first mentioned it, she said: “Think Chanel Cruise Collection Show 2009/2010, Death in Venice, Cabana stripes….” Also, I would add: Cole Porter, Peggy

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Guggenheim, the Beistegui Ball at the Palazzo Labia.

Manhattan on the first of April, even with this mild weather of ours, seems eons away from the Adriatic waters of Venetian sons and daughters, but I knew this would be a good party anyway because the women dress up, the boys look proper and elegant in black-tie, and the masques can be fantastic. Everybody gets into it. Furthermore, a guy named Nicky Balestrieri turned the Delano & Aldrich into a “Lido-inspired masked wonderland...” And it worked.

Save Venice was created back in the 1970s to raise money to repair and

restore antiquities from that center of world commerce of the Renaissance.

Its founders and many early supporters were socially prominent New Yorkers and Europeans, exponents of the earlier Jet Set and International Society with an ambitious cultural objective.

It became a stellar addition to their annual social calendar.

It also became a wonderful excursion as the warmer months arrived, with trips there and thereabouts, and engagements in New York with a couple of festive costume events a year. They accomplished two things. First, they engaged the population with the excellent idea of “saving” an

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D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A extraordinary relic of another civilization that is the stuff of not only Western culture, but of world culture. And, they had a good time. They still do, although a new generation has taken on the mantle.

Over the past 40 years, Save Venice has raised more than $20 million to restore more than 400 works of art and

architecture in Venice. Save Venice currently has more than 20 projects underway throughout the city of Venice, made possible with support from individuals, foundations, and corporation.

Un Ballo, for an evening out in New York, is a ball.

And a fun one. Co-chairs for the evening included

Olivia Chantecaille, Adelina Wong Ettelson, Amanda Hearst, Mary Kathryn Navab, Alexandra Lind Rose, Beatrice Rossi-Landi, Luigi Tadini, and Matthew White (who is also chairman of the board of directors for Save Venice). International co-chairs included Coralie Charriol Paul, Francesca

Bortolotto Possati, Kalliope Karella Rena, Nazanin Smeets, Nadja Swarovski, and H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia. The evening was sponsored by Badgley Mischka and de Grisogono.

A perfect pair to provide a great party! The joint was jumpin’, and the spring season is in full swing. u

R E STO R AT I O N H A R D W A R E ’ S N E W C O L L EC T I O N I N I TS N E W YO R K STO R E

Lana Smith 46 QUEST

Tinsley Mortimer

Elizabeth Cohen and Dawn Grannum

Carlos Albarini and Gary Friedman

Newell Turner

Edei

Jill Eddlestein and Nancy Clayton

PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N

Elizabeth Gilpin

Your legacy can last forever.

Unfortunately, this opportunity won’t.

TAX-FREE GIFTING

There is a unique gifting opportunity in effect right now that allows you to transfer significant assets to your heirs tax free. But it expires at the end of 2012. So now is

the time to sit down with Wilmington Trust. Our trusted advisors have been helping families sustain wealth for generations. Let us help you ensure your legacy lives on. Call Larry Gore at 212.415.0520 or visit wilmingtontrust.com/gift.

WEALTH ADVISORY SERVICES

CALIFORNIA | DELAWARE | FLORIDA | GEORGIA | MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK | PENNSYLVANIA | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON, D.C. ©2012 Wilmington Trust Corporation, an affiliate of M&T Bank.

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A T H E H E N R Y ST R E E T S E T T L E M E N T A R T S H O W AT T H E PA R K AV E N U E A R MO R Y

Patricia Falkenberg and Bil Manger

Tracey Roberts and Evelyn Tompkins

Alexia and Baird Ryan with Neil Meltzer and Edward Nahem

Melissa and Robert Burch with Dale Burch 48 QUEST

Isobelle and Richard Feigen

Mark Fox with Janine and Tom Hill and Nancy Sector

Robert Mnuchin and Leonard Lauder

Jeff Rosenheim and Peter Kunhardt

PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N

Ashley Sherrill and Josephine Hilal

T&HEAM ANHATTAN ART NTIQUES CENTER WWW.THE-MAAC.COM

Tiffany & Co., Schlumberger 18k gold, black and white pearl cufflinks, American, c. 1970.

BOTIER INC.

GALLERY 15 |

TEL :

212.371.2424

Art Deco platinum and diamond “draped” design brooch/clip, c. 1930. H. 1 3/4"; W. 1 1/4".

CLIFFORD BARON

GALLERY 8 |

TEL :

646.204.0143

Enamel, diamonds and 18k gold bird brooch, Italy, c. 1950 - 1960. H. 4"; W. 1".

BRIAN STEWART

GALLERY 49A |

TEL :

212.758.1252

E-mail: mbotier@hotmail.com

E-mail: cliffordbaron@yahoo.com

E-mail: brian.brian@me.com

The Complete Poems of Robert Frost, limited edition, one of only 1,500 signed copies by Frost, 1950.

Tiffany silver wine cooler with removable sleeve, American, c. 1880. H. 10"; W. 11.5".

Studio porcelain vase, signed Makuzu Kozan, Japan, Meiji/Taisho Period. H. 11.5".

MANHATTAN RARE BOOK CO.

GALLERY 50F |

TEL :

212.326.8907

www.ManhattanRareBooks.com

BLUM ANTIQUES

GALLERY 33 |

TEL :

212.759.2055

www.BlumAntiques.com

FLYING CRANES ANTIQUES

GALLERIES 55 & 58 |

TEL:

212.223.4600

www.FlyingCranesAntiques.com

1050 SECOND AVENUE AT 55TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10022 TEL: 212.355.4400 | FAX: 212.355.4403 | E-MAIL: info@the-maac.com

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A Q U E ST W E LC OM E D M A R I N A B TO PA L M B E AC H AT C L U B C O L E T T E

Lucy Musso and Sharon Sondes

Dace Martinez and Helena Martinez

Emilia Fanjul and Hilary Geary

Hillie Mahoney and Mai Harrison

Michele Herbert and Thierry Chaunu 50 QUEST

Pauline Pitt and Lis Waterman

Linda Olsson and Didi Shields

Inger Anderson, Nellie Benoit and Denise Hanley

Mary Freitas and Beth Pine

Grace Meigher and Karin Luter

Caroline Blitz and Linda Soper

Eleanor Kennedy

LU C I E N C A P E H A RT

Paul Lubetsky and Audrey Gruss

Long Island's North Shore danielgale.com

Mill Neck, NY – “Barberrys” SD #6. MLS# P1127540. $14,000,000.

Bonnie Devendorf, LAB, 516.759.4800 ext.111, c.516.509.6229

Bayville, NY SD #3. MLS# 2446699. $1,350,000.

Kathy Borg, LAB, 516.759.47800 ext.104 c.516.457.9656

Belle Terre, NY PJSD #6. MLS# 2393921. $3,988,000.

Miriam Ainbinder, LAB,631.689.6980 ext.216

Brookville, NY – New Construction SD #15. MLS# 2437171, 2437122, 2437174. $3,999,999 - $6,999,999.

Eloise Halpern, LAB, 516.759.4800 ext.128

Brookville, NY SD #3. MLS# 2471335. $1,795,000.

Charles A. Brisbane, LAB, 516.759.4800 ext.123 Aleta Brisbane Heisig, LSP, 516.759.4800 ext.152

Cold Spring Harbor, NY – Unique CSH SD #2. MLS# 2475855. $2,595,000.

Margy Hargraves, LAB, 631.692.6770 ext.227 Peggy Moriarty, LAB, 631.692.6770 ext.224

East Marion, NY – Beachfront Gem SD #1. MLS# 2472693. $1,249,000.

John T. Bradley, LSP, 631.734.5439 c.516.662.5365

Lloyd Harbor, NY CSH SD #2. MLS# 2341038. $4,995,000.

Laura Zambratto, LAB, 631.692.6770 ext.284, c.917.822.4360

Mill Neck, NY – “Silver Beech” Old Westbury, NY SD #3. MLS# 2445257. $7,495,000.

SD #15. MLS# 2438764. $7,186.000.

Michael Piccolo, LAB, 516.759.4800 ext.106 Lois Kirschenbaum, LAB, 516.484.1800 ext.229 Bonnie Devendorf, LAB, 516.759.4800 ext.111

Old Westbury, NY SD# 2. MLS# 2475508. $3,888,000 Ellen Zipes, LAB 516.626.7600 ext.15 Wendy Osinoff-Sutton, LAB, 516.626.7600 ext.11

Roslyn Harbor, NY SD# 3. MLS# 2467173. $2,888,000.

Ellen Zipes, LAB 516.626.7600 ext.15 Jared Zipes, LSP, 516.626.7600 ext. 16

Sands Point, NY – Addison Mizner Des SD #4. MLS# 2479805. $5,350,000.

Francesca Morrocu Blass, LAB, 516.883.2900 ext.162, c.516.857.1750

Shelter Island Heights, NY SD #1. MLS# 2475127. $1,950,000.

Linda L. McCarthy, LSP, 631.749.1155 ext.202, c.631.745.2626

Each office is independently owned and operated. We are pledged to provide equal opportunity for housing to any prospective customer or client, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A G I O R G I O A R M A N I S P O N S O R E D T H E MU S E U M O F T H E C I T Y O F N E W YO R K ’ S W I N T E R B A L L

Sara Ayres, Nathalie Kaplan and Heather Mnuchin

Amanda Espy, Dara O’Hara and Burwell Schorr

Alex Acquavella and Laura Stoloff 52 QUEST

Zack Bacon and Ann Colley

Kim Taipale and Nicole Miller

Gillian Hearst Simonds and Amanda Hearst

Drew Grant and Chris Brown

The Directors Council of the Museum of the City of New York

Nancy and Jim Talcott

Michel Witmer and Alison Minton

Georgina Schaeffer

Kathy and Andrew Thomas

Kara Young and Peter Georgiopoulos

PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N

Taylor and Hannah Robinson

MEERA GANDHI’S GIVING BACK BOOK WITH FOREWORD BY CHERIE BLAIR.

Book launCh to Be held on May 9, 2012 the MuseuM of arts and desiGn at ColuMBus CirCle, new york. $50 HARDCOVER AVAILABLE AT Chartwell Booksellers • the Corner Bookstore • Crawford doyle Booksellers rizzoli Bookstore • st. Mark’s Bookshop www.aMazon.CoM • www.theGivinGBaCkfoundation.net

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A C I N E M A S O C I E T Y H O ST E D A S C R E E N I N G FO R D E TAC H M E N T

Sami Gayle and Robert Verdi

Lori Livey

Austin Stark, Bingo Gubelmann and Benji John

Douglas Steinbrech and Jeffrey Sharp

Sylvia Plachy, Adrien Brody and Elliot Brody

David Rabin and Millana Snow

Celine Rattray and Lesley Schulhof

C O C K TA I L S H O ST E D BY N E W YO R K E R S FO R C H I L D R E N AT B E R G D O R F G O O D M A N

Lauren Donnelly, Lacary Sharpe and Clay Floren 54 QUEST

Amy Dwek and Meg Sharpe

Linda Fargo and Susan Magazine

Matt and Alexandra Becker

Elizabeth Gilpin and James Hague

Susan Burden and Lauren Pinto

Phoebe Eaton and Nick Scoppetta

PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N

Tia Cibani and Jacqui Wenzel

“Representing Palm Beach's Finest Residences from PiedsàTerre to Oceanfront Estates” Established

SLOANS CURVE  OUTSTANDING PENTHOUSE

INTOWN  DIRECT INTRACOASTAL VILLA

INTOWN  SEABREEZE AVENUE

TRUMP PLAZA  PARK AVENUE MEETS PALM BEACH

Flawless 3br/3.5ba approx. 3,500 sf. residence with 500 sf. wrap-around balcony. Enjoy unobstructed 180 degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal from all major rooms.

Custom renovation with aged limestone floors, high ceilings, custom kitchen, and pool side cabana. $3,288,000

Enchanting Mediterranean with magical gardens, speciman palm trees, pool, cabana, and guest house. This detailed 3br/3.5ba home features Juliet balconies, pecky cypress ceilings, magnificent fireplace, French doors, hardwood floors, and chef's kitchen.

Best value in town! $1,850,000

Elegance abounds in this luxurious villa with magnificent water views, private pool, elevator, and 4-car garage. Boasting 3,847 sf. of living space with 4br/4.5ba, this unique townhouse has it all.

Relax in your private pool, watch the yachts float by, and enjoy Palm Beach at its finest! $2,750,000

Elegant 2-story townhome with 3br/3.5ba and family room perfect for entertaining with over 4,100 sf. of classic style, gracious floor plan, and magnificent 600 sf. terrace with bougainvillea, fountain and lovely views overlooking the Intracoastal. Full Service building pets accepted. $1,795,000

D PEN

WORTH AVENUE  WINTHROP HOUSE, UNIT 702

Gorgeous 2br/2ba with fabulous ocean & town views at the prestigious Winthrop House. Coveted 7th floor sunny corner unit, top of the line kitchen & baths, impact doors & shutters, and hardwood floors. Full service building w/gym, pool, tunnel to the beach, garage, and pet friendly! $1,595,000

www.LindaOlsson.com •

1989

ING

INTOWN  DIRECT OCEANFRONT BUILDING

Fabulous southeast exposure 2br/2.5ba in the exclusive Sun & Surf with outstanding ocean views. Walk the beach from this full service direct oceanfront bldg with valet, doorman, 2 pools, and gym.

Best location in town, walk to fine restaurants, shops, publix, & gourmet markets. $1,495,000

(561) 820-9195 • Linda@LindaOlsson.com

NEW YORK • PALM BEACH • GREENWICH

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A T H E A N N UA L F I T G A L A AT C I P R I A N I 4 2 N D ST R E E T

William Lauder, William Dillard III and William Dillard II

Sky Ferreira and Lily Donaldson

Peter Scotese and John Pomerantz

Ludwig Kuttner and Beatrix Ost

Rob Stevens

Jeffrey and Elizabeth Peek

“THE LEGEND SERIES” EXHIBITION BY MICK ROCK IN CHELSEA

Chervine Dalaeli and Gwen Alyssa 56 QUEST

Dean Holtermann and Lisa Ronson

Marilyn Longa and Henry Silver

Paul Johnson Calderon and Natalie Rock

Lou Reed and Mick Rock

J O H N A Q U I N O / M A RY H I LL I A R D

Elizabeth and Bob Gruen

FIVE GENERATIONS. ONE PRIVATE BANKER.

For over twenty years, the Punia Family has placed their trust in their private banker from IDB Bank.

THE PUNIA FAMILY OWNERS, PUNIA COMPANY L.L.C.

To enjoy this type of personal service and loyalty, call Jim LoGatto at 212-551-8508.

PRIVATE BANKING COMMERCIAL BANKING

IDB Bank速 is a registered service mark of Israel Discount Bank of New York. Member FDIC

D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A A M E R I C A N B A L L E T T H E AT R E ’ S C U L I N A R Y PA S D E D E U X AT T H E L I G H T H O U S E

Weston and Anne Hicks

Asha Talwar, Jay Dubiner and Emily Reifel 58 QUEST

Judith Hoffman, Brian Heidkae and Arlene Cooper

Shelly and Steven Limmer

Cory Stearns and Gemma Bond

Matthew Harb and Christine Shevchenko

Pierre Rougier and Sylvie Picquet

Twirling guests

B I LLY FA R R E LL

Jen Volpe and Misty Copeland

If You Needed Medical Attention While Away From Home, Where Would You Turn?

Castle Connolly LifeStream MD offers Peace of Mind. On Call.

Imagine having a carefully selected, board certified physician serving as your own personal health advisor anytime, day or night.

Castle Connolly LifeStream MD is a health advisory service with exclusive access to world-class doctors, professional health advice and personal medical records, anytime, anywhere, around the world. When you are away from home and may need care, do you just go to any doctor or any emergency room? Why take a risk? Our members are busy executives and their families, who seek the highest level of health advice and support. www.lifestreammd.com

CALENDAR

APRIL

7

MAN, I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN

The Links will host its “Women of Distinction Spirit Awards” luncheon at 12 p.m. at Chelsea Piers. For more information, call 212.593.6443.

10

WHAT GLIMMERS IS GOLD

The Glimmerglass Festival will hold “GLIMMERATA!” at 6:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Club. For more information, call 607.547.0700.

MUSIC IS IN THE AIR

The Collegiate Chorale will present The Mikado at 6:30 p.m. at Carnegie Hall. For more information, call 646.435.9465.

12

CHILD’S PLAY

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s luncheon will take place at 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 212.233.5500.

16

HAVE A BALL

The Tribeca Ball will take place at 6 p.m. at New York Academy of Art. For more information, call 212.966.0300.

17

SCOPE IT OUT

A dinner benefiting SCOPE will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis. For more information, call 646.278.4551.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

The Horticulture Society of New York will host “Couture en Fleur” at 7 p.m. at 583 Park Avenue. For more information, call 212.757.0915.

On April 28, the Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library will celebrate wine with an exhibition called “Uncorked! Wine, Objects, and Tradition.” The show will include more than three hundred objects, from wineglasses and cellarettes to song sheets and paintings. For more information, call 800.448.3883.

2

THE CUTTING EDGE

Figure Skating in Harlem will host its Skating with the Stars event at 5:30 p.m. at Wollman Rink. For more information, call 212.222.8240.

3

LEAD THE WAY

United Way of New York City’s “Power Of Women To Make A Difference” luncheon will take place with Soledad O’Brien as keynote speaker at 11:30 a.m. at The Plaza. For more information, call 914.235.1490.

LIKE A PARISIAN

The Spring Revel will celebrate the 200th anniversary of The Paris Review at 7 p.m. at Cipriani 42nd Street. For more information, call 212.343.1333.

60 QUEST

4

The Wild Bird Fund will host a gala at 6:30 p.m. at the “Birdie” Vanderbilt Mansion. For more information, call 917.848.0044.

EAST MEETS WEST

Shen Yung Performing Arts will hold shows at Lincoln Center through the 22nd. For more information, call 800.818.2393.

GET REAL

The UJA-Federation of New York “REX” gala will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt. For more information, call 212.836.1131.

GOTHAM CITY

5

19

The East Side House Settlement’s New York International Auto Show preview will take place at 6 p.m. at the Jacob Javits Center. For more information, call 212.829.0002.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Medal will be awarded by the Municipal Art Society at 7 p.m. at the New York Public Library. For more information, call 914.235.1490.

VROOM VROOM BIRD IS THE WORD

18

Gay Men’s Health Crisis will host its gala at Gotham Hall. For more information, call 212.367.1000.

LANDMARK OCCASION

JSA

CALENDAR

APRIL at The Pierre. For more information, call 212.874.5457.

PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS?

The French Heritage Society and the Fondation Royaumont will hold a concert at 7 p.m. at a private residence. For more information, call 212.759.6846.

ONCE YOU POP…

The New York Pops will hold its “Journey On” gala at 7 p.m. at Carnegie Hall. For more information, call 212.247.7800.

MAY 3

A NIGHT AT THE ARMORY

The Perlman Music Program’s benefit will take place at 7 p.m. at the Park Avenue Armory. For more information, call 212.877.5045.

SHARING IS CARING

On April 30, the New York Pops will celebrate its 29th birthday with a gala entitled “Journey On,” honoring Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty—the Tony Award-winning and Oscar-nominated songwriting team of Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical, My Favorite Year, and more. For more information, call 212.247.7800.

PULL UP TO THE TABLE

ArtTable will honor Patricia E. Harris with its award at 11 a.m. at the Mandarin Oriental. For more information, call 212.343.1735.

The Soane Gala will take place at 583 Park. For more information, call 646.336.7230.

Tradition,” an exhibit, will open at the Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library. For more information, call 800.448.3883.

25

30

The Society of MSKCC’s Spring Ball will take place at 7 p.m. at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For more information, call 212.829.0002.

Fountain House will host a symposium and luncheon at 11:15 a.m.

WALK IN THE PARK

SPRING AHEAD OLD BOYS

The Boys’ Club of New York’s Junior Committee will host a party at 9 p.m. at the Gramercy Park Hotel. For more information, call 212.534.2661.

23

WORTH A SHOT

The National Meingitis Association will hold “Give Kids a Shot!” at 6:30 p.m. at the New York Athletic Club. For more information, call 212.244.7333.

PICTURE PERFECT

Bill Cunningham will receive the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence at 7 p.m. at the Waldorf=Astoria.

For more information, call 212.903.9679.

24

REAP WHAT YOU SOW

City Harvest’s “An Evening of Practical Magic” will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Cipriani 42nd Street. For more information, call 212.843.8070.

62 QUEST

MAKE A SPLASH

5

HORSING AROUND

The Junior Committee of the Soldiers Sailors Marines Airmen and Coast Guard Club will host a brunch celebrating the Kentucky Derby at 12 p.m. at Harry’s Café. For more information, call 212.683.4353.

BELLA NOCHE

The American Academy in Rome’s Tribute Dinner at 7 p.m. at The Plaza. For more information, call 212.751.7200.

MIRACLE ON 42ND STREET

The Food Allergy Initiative’s Spring Luncheon will take place at Cipriani 42nd Street. For more information, call 212.980.1711.

26

SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED

God’s Love We Deliver will host “Authors In Kind” at 11:30 a.m. at The Pierre. For more information, call 212.829.0002.

28

PUT A CORK IN IT

“Uncorked! Wine, Objects, and

On April 17, the New York Flower Show Dinner Dance will be hosted by the Horticultural Society of New York, sustaining the vital connection between people and plants. For more information, call 212.757.0915.

JOHANNA WEBER

20

The “Women Who Care” luncheon benefiting United Cerebral Palsy will take place at 11 a.m. at Cipriani 42nd Street. For more information, call 917.626.1300.

ROBERTA.McCAFFREYREALTY ROBERTA.McCAFFREYREALTY Garrison • Cold Spring, NY • 60 Mins NYC Westchester,Putnam,DutchessMLS Garrison • Cold Spring, NY • 60 Mins NYC Westchester,Putnam,DutchessMLS

143MainStreet,ColdSpring,NY10516 143MainStreet,ColdSpring,NY10516 Tel:845.265.4113•www.mccaffreyrealty.com Tel:845.265.4113•www.mccaffreyrealty.com info@mccaffreyrealty.com info@mccaffreyrealty.com

GARRISON, NY - Enjoy the ultimate in condo living in THE CASTLE, a well-known landmark high above the Hudson River. This luxurious 2 floor, 2 bedroom unit offers breathGARRISON, NY - Enjoy the ultimate in condo living in THE CASTLE, a well-known taking views from Bear Mountain Bridge to Newburgh Bay. It has huge open rooms, 12 to 15 landmark high above the Hudson River. This luxurious 2 floor, 2 bedroom unit offers breathfoot ceilings, 4 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, and sumptuous baths. It also offers outdoor spaces, taking views from Bear Mountain Bridge to Newburgh Bay. It has huge open rooms, 12 to 15 central air conditioning, and garaging for 2 cars. Offered at $2,999,999 foot ceilings, 4 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, and sumptuous baths. It also offers outdoor spaces, central air conditioning, and garaging for 2 cars. Offered at $2,999,999

EAST FISHKILL, Dutchess County, NY - Wiccopee House. Circa 1894, this beautiful estate on 17.6 acres, includes the 7000 square foot Georgian style main house featuring EAST FISHKILL, Dutchess County, NY - Wiccopee House. Circa 1894, this beau6 bedrooms, gleaming wood floors, multiple fireplaces, period details and a gourmet tiful estate on 17.6 acres, includes the 7000 square foot Georgian style main house featuring kitchen. Additional features include a 100’ x 30’ barn with a 2 bedroom apartment, pad6 bedrooms, gleaming wood floors, multiple fireplaces, period details and a gourmet dock, pool, and tennis court. Offered at $2,495,000 kitchen. Additional features include a 100’ x 30’ barn with a 2 bedroom apartment, paddock, pool, and tennis court. Offered at $2,495,000

COLD Spring Fantastic home, in private country setting on 10 acres with distant river and mountain views, features neo-European styling. The spacious home boasts open vaulted spaces, walls of glass, custom builtins, 4 fireplaces, stunning master suite, and fabulous kitchen and baths. A custom “water feature” pool and bocci court are nestled among the intimate gardens. Offered at $1,995,000

pUTnAM VALLEY Classic Nantucket shingled lakefront home on Roaring Brook Lake. The architect-designed home features a large living room with fireplace wall, custom designed kitchen and spacious master suite. Over an acre of private, carefully landscaped property offers a shed, new boathouse, new docks and a sandy beach. Offered at $1,125,000

GARRISON, NY - Spacious and open country home with fabulous HUDSON RIVER VIEWS to the west and north to Storm King Mt and Newburgh Bay. The living room features GARRISON, NY - Spacious and open country home with fabulous HUDSON RIVER cathedral ceiling and stone fireplace, and all living areas enjoy the views and access to stone terVIEWS to the west and north to Storm King Mt and Newburgh Bay. The living room features races. 4 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths, includes huge master suite privately located on its own level. cathedral ceiling and stone fireplace, and all living areas enjoy the views and access to stone terThe in-ground pool and cabana further enhance the 5.6 acre property. Offered at $1,995,000 races. 4 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths, includes huge master suite privately located on its own level.

The in-ground pool and cabana further enhance the 5.6 acre property. Offered at $1,995,000

COLD SPRING, NY - Masterfully designed contemporary offers massive two story entry, living room and dining room sharing a grand floor to ceiling stone fireplace, large COLD SPRING, NY - Masterfully designed contemporary offers massive two story chef’s kitchen and 4 bedrooms. Walls of French doors lead to deck cantilevered over rushentry, living room and dining room sharing a grand floor to ceiling stone fireplace, large ing mountain stream. Delightful details and high quality materials are evident throughout chef’s kitchen and 4 bedrooms. Walls of French doors lead to deck cantilevered over rushthe home which is sited on almost 5 acres. Offered at $1,875,000 ing mountain stream. Delightful details and high quality materials are evident throughout the home which is sited on almost 5 acres. Offered at $1,875,000

gArriSOn Striking contemporary with Mediterranean influence in desirable enclave of upscale homes. Highlights include open floor plan, high ceilings, gleaming wood floors, fireplaces in living and famGARRISON, NY - Courtside. This rustic stone barn, whose distinctive architecture ily rooms, renovated gourmet 3 bedrooms baths. sets it apart from the ordinary, has been kitchen, converted into 10,000 squareand feet 2 of ½ luxurious GARRISON, NY - Courtside. This rustic stone barn, whose distinctive architecture living space. The home features large 20’ public rooms,stone country kitchen, 7-8 professionbedrooms and A waterfall fed pool, 60’ and deck, patios and sets it apart from the ordinary, has been converted into 10,000 square feet of luxurious a separate 2 bedroom apartment. The beautifully landscaped 4 acre property also offers living space. The home largerelaxation public rooms, and country kitchen, 7-8 bedrooms and landscaping aidfeatures outdoor aaltennis court and gunite pool.

Offered at $1,650,000 entertaining. Offered a separate 2 bedroom apartment. The beautifully landscaped 4 acre property also offers at $945,000 a tennis court and gunite pool. Offered at $1,650,000

BALMViLLE Enjoy glorious views of the Hudson River and Storm King Mountain from this gracious center hall colonial. Fireplaces warm the living room and the family room, a formal dining room provides Putnam Valley, NY - Lovely country retreat on almost 5 acres. This C. 1935 home offers space forfeet, dinner parties, and 4 bedrooms offer room fornumerous family 4356 square 5 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, 2 working fireplaces, hardwood floors, and Putnam Valley, NY - Lovely country retreat on almost 5 acres. This C. 1935 home offers window seats, nooks and crannies for added character.porches The glorious backyard features an an inand guests.

A four-season sunroom, and patios, and 4356 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, 2 working fireplaces, hardwood floors, and numerous ground pool with spa and sizeable barbeque and patio area. The property also includes a forwindow seats,pool nooks provide and cranniesplaces for added character.

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H A R RY B E N S O N

IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN THE CALL CAME in 1992 asking me to photograph

Donald Trump, I was in my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland.

I didn’t want to take a straightforward portrait because he had been photographed so often. I wanted to capture his strong personality—at the time, he had just overhauled Wollman Rink in Central Park in record time and had opened Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.

For Lord Snowdon’s photographs of the royals, including those of Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, he was using great-looking, hand-painted scenic backdrops that were popular at the time. So I called Graham Barkley, an artist in London who painted the scenery and backdrops for the Royal Ballet and for Snowdon. I asked Graham to paint a backdrop for me with the new Trump Tower rising into the clouds and said, “By the way, if you could put in a couple of ice skaters, that would be great.”

Stopping in London on my way back to New York to pick up the backdrop, I was pleased with the result.

When I arrived at Donald’s office, he was surprised but seemed pleased with the idea. I set up the backdrop and asked him to throw his topcoat over his shoulders like Marcello Mastroianni in the film 8½. Donald obliged, and there you have it. u 64 QUEST

Donald Trump, 1992.

TA K I

SEXES IN THE CITY the left in American politics as a joke, and its latest crusade concerning women confirms it. In fact, it is straight out of Some Like It Hot, the Billy Wilder comedy of the early 1960s. When Joe E. Brown, playing a yacht-owning eccentric multimillionaire, is told by his fiancé, Jack Lemmon (disguised as a woman), that he is actually a man, he answers: “Nobody’s perfect.” The left wants women to be men, as do certain types among the business elite, i.e., those nice guys who brought us derivatives, mortgage insurance swaps, and the rest of those terms none of us had ever heard of before the 2008 crash. And why not? People who shuffle money around can usually be found belonging to the left. Hillaire Belloc described the type perfectly, stating, “Like all great men, his chief affairs were buying stocks and selling shares.”

My old man hated them. “How many people does he employ?” Dad would ask when someone would speak well of some Wall Street guy who had struck it rich by buying or selling some other person’s company stock. Old dad believed in creating jobs by building factories that manufactured goods like textiles, or building ships that carried goods and employed men to run them. But back to the business of women. This year’s Women in the World Summit released a photograph of Tina Brown and Angelina Jolie smiling, cobra-like, at the cameras.

I’VE ALWAYS VIEWED

Joe E. Brown and Jack Lemmon starring in the Billy Wilder comedy Some Like it Hot.

66 QUEST

TA K I What the pair has in common is an insatiable desire for publicity and the talent to get it, and that’s about all. They are both rather unattractive women—one is too thick, the other too thin—but the cameras seem to like them as they shamelessly pose non-stop for all sorts of “lefty” causes. Now it’s the Women in the World Summit, whatever that means. What I’d like to know is what La Brown and La Jolie have in common with the women of, say, Afghanistan, whose president, Karzai, recently issued a code approved by an influential group of clerics that states that beating one’s wife is prohibited only if done for reasons outside of Islamic law. In other words, the code allows hubbies to beat the little woman—as long as it’s in the name of Allah. Go figure, as they say.

ans burning their bras as of yet. Perhaps in a month or so, when the weather gets warmer. I am not an expert on women’s issues, but one thing that’s for sure is that most normal young women wish to become mothers one day, and most mothers feel guilty about not spending enough time with their children. Juggling careers with motherhood can leave the fairer sex awfully isolated. Mind you, remarks against contraception and prenatal testing by Republicans haven’t helped. I’m for individual choice, and let’s leave it at that. Why politicize sex, the last pleasure left a civilized human being? Isn’t Obama doing the same thing looking for votes as that crook Karzai? The biggest problem of all, especially among blacks, is the fatherless family, and that’s where Obama should be concentrating, rather

to relationship, having children left and right, satisfying our own desires. Just look at black American millionaire sports stars, starting with the NBA and the NFL. Marriage reins in our instincts by requiring collaboration. I’d be the last one to tell two people of the same sex not to marry, but why bring the state into it?

In any case, if the New York Times is for gay marriage, I’m against it. The paper that only prints what is “P.C.” thunders that it’s bigotry to outlaw gay marriage.

Indeed, it’s nothing of the kind. Most people are not bigoted, but believe marriage is for procreation purposes.

People are neither intolerant nor do they fear homosexuality. If their elected representatives vote against it, so be it. And vice versa, as the case may be.

Empowering a minority in order to force

Above, from left: Afghanistan’s Karzai, who issued a code allowing the beating of women; Obama is currently ramping up his reelection campaign.

But we here in the West seem to be busy asking women to become more like men—and the other way round, needless to say. Shomeshing’s very wrong here, as the drunken editor said to the rookie reporter. Obama’s reelection campaign is focusing on building support among women using the debate over the new health-care law and the resistance by social conservatives over birth control and abortions. Culture wars are back, although I haven’t seen too many lesbi-

than what women’s pressure groups are banging on about.

The left also wants gay marriage, which is, well, funny. A civil contract should do, why tinker with the cornerstone of society that is marriage? It cements the bonds between grownups and the children they rear, laying the foundation without which romantic love or sizzling lust will collapse like a soufflé after midnight. Let’s face it: left to our own devices, men and women would wander from relationship

a majority to comply is not kosher.

To recapitulate: women are women and men are men. Both sexes have their own characteristics and agendas in life.

Being different has worked these last 10,000 years. Busybodies should shut up and let nature take its course. Save us, please, from the preachy solemnity of do-gooders. The wise old Greek philosopher Taki has spoken. u For more Taki, visit takimag.com.

APRIL 2012 67

QUEST

Fresh Finds

BY DA N I E L C A P P E L LO A N D E L I Z A B E T H M E I G H E R

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY about April showers... but this month,

you can forget all of that. Spring is in full gear this year with Carolina Herrera’s nature-inspired colors and fashionable, feminine silhouettes. Also keeping it bright—and green—are an array of designers, from J.McLaughlin to J.Crew. Need a little jewelry to sparkle things up? We’ve got you covered, from stones that fall from your neck to earrings inspired Wempe’s one-of-a-kind Blu

by Princess Grace. Of course, sometimes it tends

BY KIM necklace in to sprinkle in April, so be sure to pick up a new 18-kt. white gold with one trench coat, like a stark white double30.63-ct. beryl teardrop, breasted one from Hunter Boot. one 8.19-ct. tourmaline, and

66 brilliant-cut diamonds. $68,875. Wempe: 700 Fifth Ave. or 212.397.9000.

You won’t have to fish for compliments with David Webb’s Fish Cuff in 18-kt. yellow gold, platinum, diamonds, emeralds, and white enamel. $85,800. David Webb: 942 Madison Ave. or 212.421.3030.

Welcome spring in style with Carolina Herrera’s grass green jacquard gown with blouson top. $5,990.

Carolina Herrera: 954 Madison Ave. or 212.249.6552.

68 QUEST

Serve it up with this tennis racquet cover of Squishee® and ballistic canvas, designed to hold new and larger racquet heads. Features adjustable twill cross-body strap. $450. Eric Javits: ericjavits.com.

Asprey has captured nature’s beauty in the

Montblanc’s Princesse Grace de

colorful Daisy Ring in peridot and blue topaz. $6,700.

Asprey: 853 Madison Ave. or 212.688.1811.

Monaco Pétales Entrelacés earrings are stunningly crafted in polished red gold with round brilliant-cut dimaonds in a pavé setting. Montblanc: 800.995.4810 or montblanc.com.

Comfort and style were never paired better than at J.Crew this spring.

This season, mix and match your J.McLaughlin’s slim fit bi-stretch Dixie

wardrobe courtesy of J.Crew:

Jean comes in a rainbow of colors.

1035 Madison Ave. or 212.249.3869.

$168. Available at J.McLaughlin stores everywhere: 1311 Madison Ave. or 1004 Lexington Ave.

Cap toes are all the rage, as Stuart Weitzman’s blush patent-leather cap-toe flat proves. $350. Stuart Weitzman: 675 Fifth Ave. or 212.759.1570.

Welcome spring colors into your home with one of these door levers from Sherle Wagner. Sherle Wagner: 212.758.3300 or sherlewagner.com.

APRIL 2012 69

Fresh Finds Elizabeth Taylor famously owned these Marina B PAMPILLES E.I. earrings in cascading diamonds.

Now, they are once

Add a hint of whimsy to your next dinner party by sending Mrs. John L. Strong’s “The Pig That Ate Roast Beef” invitations. $95 for a set of 12. Mrs. John L. Strong: 699 Madison Ave. or 212.838.3775.

again available for another legend.

Price upon request.

Marina B: By appointment at 212.644.1155.

Nothing calls for a toast more than Roberto Coin’s Haute Couture Cocktail Cluster Rings in an array of golds, diamonds, and gemstones. $14,200 to 33,000.

Roberto Coin: robertocoin.com.

After a one-year renovation, Casa de Campo’s Pete Dye-designed inland golf course, The Links, reopens! Casa de Campo: 800.877.3643 or casadecampo.com.do.

Brave the rain in Hunter Boot’s classic trench in white—a fashionable way to weather April showers. $395.

Hunter Boot: hunter-boot.com.

Bulgari’s High Jewelry Bracelet is a marvel in yellow gold, blue cabochon sapphire, cushion cabochon sapphire, yellow cabochon sapphire, yellow cusioncabochon sapphire, and 26 emeralds.

Add a touch of gold to your feet with the Midinette shoe from Belgian Shoes in gold with silver trim. $350. Belgian Shoes: 212.755.7372 or belgianshoes.com.

70 QUEST

Price upon request. Bulgari: 800.BVLGARI or bulgari.com.

Be transported with Prada’s Chassis

Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona

bag: a classic that’s keeping up with the

40-mm. Everose gold timepiece

times. $2,950. Prada: Select

with Oysterlock bracelet is a keeper

Prada boutiques or prada.com.

for generations. $34,700. Rolex: 800.36.ROLEX or rolex.com.

Oh, my: add a touch of chic to your wardrobe with Ralph Lauren’s orange alligator O-ring belt. $995. Ralph Lauren: Ralph Lauren stores or ralphlauren.com.

Pickett’s Press offers a charming way to call on guests: a set of letterpressed To Remind cards, with shell detail. $32 per box of 10. Pickett’s Press: 1016 Lexington Ave. or pickettspress.com.

This de Grisogono ring is one cabochon-cut sun stone (weighing 52 carats) surrounded by brown and white diamonds set in pink and white gold. Price upon request. de Grisogono: 824 Madison Ave. or 212.439.4220.

Get a leg up with Manolo Blahnik’s Elants heel. $895. Manolo Blahnik: Available at Barneys New York, 212.826.8900.

Shoshanna’s Adobe Print Hallie Dress is on trend with prints—and adds a romantic flair with billowy sleeves and flirty ruffles. $345. Shoshanna: Available at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com.

APRIL 2012 71

CANTEENS

THE TRAPPINGS OF TOKYO

BY NANCY ELLISON

THE PARTNERS OF BUCCAN, the uber hot spot in Palm Beach, have just opened a delicious, intimate Asian-fusion restaurant next door. Imoto—“little sister” in Japanese—true to its debutante status, is the talk of the town. What first appears to be a minimalist but beautifully decorated sushi bar, in a gentle and romantic setting, is actually a carnivore’s delight in disguise.

It is, for me, perfection, seating 40 people. Along with the North Atlantic fluke with black truffle ponzu and yellowtail sashimi with grapefruit, avocado, and toasted coconut, one can also 72 QUEST

savor Peking Duck tacos and lamb chop with brown sugar, soy, chilies, and carrot purée. Like Buccan, these foodie favorites are served on small plates, tapas-style, so there will be plenty of room for grilled Wagyu beef short ribs with fried rice, kimchee, edamame, and tuna and foie-gras sliders with mango salsa. “Ahha!” you say. This is no simple sushi parlor!

Buccan’s famous trio, chef Clay Conley and business partners Piper Quinn and Sam Slattery, have chosen two highly trained Japanese chefs from New York: Kazu Yonemoto and Masa

N A N C Y E LL I S O N

CANTEENS

Tsuruga. New to Palm Beach will be the hand-selected hamachi and aji fish, flown in from Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji market.

Chef Clay Conley manages to supply our craving for traditional Japanese cuisine, but has also brought his own incredible fusion flare, making each dish ordered a near outer-body experience.

His rather amazing chicken wings with orange, smoked chilies, and mint, give one the unexpected fusion of a tailgate pre-Super Bowl party with the mysteries of the Orient. Who can resist that?

Imoto! Forks were graciously provided and she found the local swordfish “Oscar” with soy, peanut glaze, hollandaise, and king crab divine—not to mention the gingered spinach and Japanese eggplant with miso beurre blanc.

Now, this is not the kind of pretentious “foodie” restaurant that serious guests reserve a table years in advance. No, the delights found by dining at Imoto have more to do with the simple fun of being in a pleasant, hip atmosphere, savoring tasty, unexpected dishes. Even more importantly, Imoto is a restaurant

To complement the remarkable food, Imoto has an equally interesting selection of sakes including Ko’s TEN Junmai Daiginjo and Tozai Snow Maiden Junmai Nigori.

The first time we brought friends to Imoto, we discovered after the fact that he had never used chopsticks, and she hated raw fish and meat! Oops! That meant that my longed-for fluke sashimi and Yukke (carpaccio of beef with Gochujang, Asian pear, and pine nuts) would not be ordered, because it is so fun to share dishes. That said, they adored

designed to make lovers happy... and over shared plates. The saying goes: “A little sister goes a long way.” And while Imoto is steps from her big sister, she’s going to be an equally big hit. u This page, clockwise from left: The creative menu at Imoto, located at 350 South County Road in Palm Beach, Florida (561.833.5522); a selection of sake; one of the inventive Asian-fusion dishes served tapas-style. Opposite page: The great team behind Imoto (and Buccon), Sam Slattery, chef Clay Conley, and Piper Quinn.

APRIL 2012 73

THE GIFT OF GIVING BACK

MEERA GANDHI’S BOOK, Giving Back, is vibrant and inspiring, much like Meera herself. Her passion for philanthropy has been a defining characteristic since the late 1970s, when she helped care for orphaned children at Mother Teresa’s Asha Daan in Mumbai. Meera introduces her work by discussing how Mother Teresa inspired her own personal journey of giving.

The book itself, a colorful and inviting coffee-table read, explores 73 different charities and the selfless individuals who dedicate their time to helping those less fortunate. Readers learn that joy can be found through charitable efforts, like Meera who acts as founder and CEO of the Giving Back Foundation, a not-forprofit organization working toward educating women and children and addressing illness, poverty, and suffering.

In Giving Back, each page highlights a notable charity, detailing its mission statement and how Meera became involved. Included are Bono’s (RED) Foundation, which 74 Q U E S T

partners with Gap, Apple, and Coca-Cola to raise money for those with HIV, and ONE, which works closely with activists and policymakers in Africa. Also included is Habitat for Humanity India, of which Meera is a member of the advisory committee.

Insightful quotes by Meera grace the chapters, which bring us closer in touch with many of the author’s friends and colleagues, who are also invested in charitable endeavors themselves.

The book is filled with philosophies, philanthropy, and eye-opening pictures. As rewarding as the experience of reading, 100 percent of the profits from Giving Back are donated to the featured charities. Meera Gandhi shares her motto: “We are to the universe only as much as we give back to it.” u For more information about the Giving Back Foundation, please visit thegivingbackfoundation.net.

CO U RTE S Y O F M E E R A G A N D H I

BY STEFAN DOYNO

BOOK

This page, clockwise from top left: Meera at the United Nations Youth Assembly Day; students at the Birch Wathen Lenox School on Giving Back Day; Susan Leonard, Dr. Serena Deutsch, and Meera on Giving Back Day; Meera and her mother at St. Michael’s School in New Delhi; Meera with Indian singer Asha Bhosle at Carnegie Hall; Meera with a blind boy in India. Opposite page: Meera in her office (above); Meera’s book (below).

FROM THE ARCHIVES PU B L I SH E D FE BR UARY 19 9 7

76 QUEST

C E L E B R AT I N G 2 5 Y E A R S O F Q U E S T

BOOK

WE GILT THIS CITY

BY ELIZABETH QUINN BROWN

EQB: Let’s talk about the beginning... How was your relationship with each other integral to your success?

AM: Starting a business with a friend, like we did, you have that instant trust. You have that confidence. A major thing that threatens the success of startups is when the teams don’t gel—when you’re spending more time trying to figure out each other than focusing on your goal.

EQB: Brands like Zac Posen and Stuart Weitzman function as milestones for Gilt Groupe. How are these relationships special?

AWW: Zac Posen will always have a very special place in our hearts as co-founders, and in the hearts of our members. It’s almost a rite of passage when members meet with us and say, “I was there during the first Zac Posen sale.”

John Varvatos was our first men’s brand and Lucy Sykes was our first children’s brand. They really believed in us in our early days. Basically, the word of mouth among customers started to kick in, and then the word of mouth among designers.

I remember when someone mentioned Gilt Groupe to Stuart Weitzman and he called me on my cell phone. It blew me away.

I couldn’t believe it—we’d made it. Stuart Weitzman was calling me! It was a major moment for us.

EQB: Gilt Groupe, with its invitation-only plan, was at the forefront of social media. How do you continue to take advantage of tools like Instagram or Twitter?

AM: Social media was very important for us to scale very rapidly from 1 million members to 5 million members. Over 70 percent

CO U RTE S Y O F G I LT G RO U P E

THIS MONTH, Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Alexis Maybank of Gilt Groupe release their book By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop, inspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. Here, Quest speaks with the co-founders about the success story that is Gilt Groupe.

of people came to us through word of mouth—networking and blogs. Twitter is a huge source of traffic. You can watch it explode when sales start. We’re starting to see the same thing with Pinterest. People on Pinterest are pinning images that they like which is great because we’ve always invested a tremendous amount in our photography.

EQB: Do you remember a time when you realized you had made it, a “pinch-me” moment?

AWW: We had a big turning point less than six months in, when we were mentioned on The View. They said to the audience, “If you don’t want to shop full-price Dolce & Gabbana, go to this website...” It had a massive, immediate impact.

AM: Membership doubled...

AWW: ...in an hour! It was an exciting but nerve-wracking moment. It put pressure on the business faster.

AM: Another moment that was very fun for us was when we hosted the screening debut for the documentary about Valentino,

This page: Gilt Groupe’s warehousing stores everything available on the website, ready to ship to its customers (above); Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Alexis Maybank, co-founders of Gilt Groupe (below). Opposite page: Gilt Groupe invests in the photography that it uses for its sales; By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop

CO U RTE S Y O F G I LT G RO U P E

is available this month (inset).

with Valentino. It was at MoMA and, afterward, we went to The Plaza where we hosted a dinner. We had Madonna crash that dinner. I just remember our team thinking, “Oh my God. Madonna’s crashing our event! But where are we going to seat her?”

EQB: You’re both so fashionable. Who are your style icons?

AWW: It’s always important to look back and appreciate beauty from our past. I would say Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Jackie Onassis.

AM: For me, Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita in the Trevi Fountain in Rome. I think she was incredibly beautiful but fun and spontaneous, too.

AWW: I love it when people follow their own style and don’t get too bogged down with the trends. At the end of the day, the most stylish people have a confidence from within. u For more information about By Invitation Only by Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Alexis Maybank, visit giltfounders.com.

ART

ART FOR ART’S SAKE

LAST MONTH, at Palm Beach Framemakers, Jessica Ross Brown showed 14 of her oil paintings from this year. Daughter of Wilbur Ross, the artist was first exposed to the art world at her parents’ knees. She attended the Rhode Island School of Design and the Pratt Institute. She received her B.F.A. from Trinity College in Washington, D.C., and a M.A. from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Today, she lives in Johannesburg. Quest caught up with the artist for a quick Q. & A. Why did you choose to focus on figure painting?

I enjoy playing with color in skin tones, and portraying the human figure in all its glory and imperfection. Often I try to isolate the figure from its environment to reflect aloneness and vulnerability—which we ultimately all feel.

Where do you find your inspiration?

In the ordinary—it’s my job to make it more interesting. I’m intrigued by the the use of space, how we inhabit it and the tension it creates. The immediacy of a snapshot is what I aim to portray and, when painting, the process is pretty intuitive. I have no set method and treat each canvas as a new adventure.

How has living in South Africa influenced your work?

The challenges of living here have hit home with me about how

ART

finite life is, which has helped release any preconceived notions of what art should be.

Just dive into a painting: no dilly-dallying, no creating stuff that’s not authentic, no worrying about it. It forces me to be as honest as I can, which is a huge learning curve. Also, it’s a beautiful place with stunning light.

What was the most exciting part of you Palm Beach show?

The response! There was a lot of interest, and truly it wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing efforts and support of those around me and the team that displayed the show.

What do you view as your greatest achievement thus far?

Aside from being a mom, my ability to create without being too judgmental. My life is defined by two aprons at the moment, one for painting and the other for looking after my family.

Do you have any advice for other young artists?

Have confidence in yourself; if you follow your heart you can’t go wrong. Don’t let your work become too precious—stand back and destroy it if necessary and start again. And most importantly, have fun! u This page, three of the 14 oil paintings Jessica Ross Brown showed for her recent exhibition at Palm Beach Framemakers, clockwise from top left: “Umbrella” explores how we inhabit space with one another; “Lady in Red” reflects the aloneness and vulnerabilty we feel as humans; “Dominque II” demonstrates the ambiguity of female form, as well as the artist’s appreciation for it. Opposite page: Ross enjoys playing with skin tones in her work, as shown in this canvas entitled “Earrings” (above); the artist, who now lives in South Africa, stands next to a portrait she painted of her father, Wilbur Ross (below).

APRIL 2012 81

LABOR OF LOVE A unique opportunity to purchase this one-of-a-kind penthouse in the prestigious Sloan’s Curve oceanfront building in Palm Beach, with outstanding 180-degree unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, Phipps Park, and the Intracoastal NO EXPENSE WAS SPARED in the detailed, absolutely flawless, two-year, million-dollar renovation of this Palm Beach penthouse. With three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, the space boasts approximately 3,500 square feet of living space with a magnificent wraparound terrace. Its imaginative design and outstanding workmanship successfully creates the feeling of a villa in Provence with its aged limestone floors, high ceilings, limed-oak woodwork with corbels, beams, and moldings, and extraordinary custom cabinetry. The light and bright gourmet kitchen features limestone counters, custom Klaff’s hardware, and Sub-Zero

& Wolf appliances. Walk the beach, play tennis, or just relax in your gorgeous renovated poolside cabana with a full bath and kitchen—truly Palm Beach at its finest!

Experience fabulous amenities in this white-glove building with an on-site manager and 24-hour security with guard gate. The exclusive Sloan’s Curve oceanfront building complex features garage parking, an Olympic-size pool, a gym, and a tennis center with a pro—it’s pet-friendly, too! u For more information, please contact Linda R. Olsson, Inc., Realtor at 561.820.9195 or visit LindaOlsson.com.

OPEN HOUSE

This page: The apartment features 180-degree views from all major rooms and a 500-square-foot wraparound terrace (above); the dining room features beautiful limestone floors and high ceilings (below). Opposite page, clockwise from top: The living room of the Palm Beach penthouse, on the market with Linda R. Olsson, Inc., Realtor; the master bedroom boasts outstanding ocean views; top-of-the-line gourmet kitchen.

APRIL 2012 83

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G R E E N W IC H

F I N E

P R OP E RT I E S

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80 MASON STREET . GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT 06830 GREENWICHFINEPROPERTIES.COM . 2 0 3 . 6 6 1 . 9 2 0 0 KATHY ADAMS . JENNIFER BENEDICT . LISA BILHUBER . BERDIE BRADY . ANN BRESNAN . BONNIE CAIE . LESLIE CARLOTTI . LINDA CASTRIOTA . JULIE CHURCH . BARBARA CIOFFARI . JOSIANE COLLAZO PATRICIA COUGHLIN . JEFFREY CRUMBINE . MAUREEN CRUMBINE . EVANGELA DALI . BLAKE DELANY . CANDY DURNIAK . JACKIE EKHOLM . SCOTT ELWELL . LEE FLEISCHMAN . JOYCE FOWLER JANIE GALBREATH . KATHERINE GEORGAS . JANE GOSDEN . MARY ANN GRABEL . SARA HOLDCROFT . JEANNE HOWELL . ROBIN KENCEL . SHARON KINNEY . ELIZABETH KOLDYKE-BOOLBOL . GILA LEWIS SALLY MALONEY . VILMA MATTEIS . DEBBIE MCGARRITY . CINDY MEEKER . JIM MEEKER . ERIN MOODY . ELLEN MOSHER . LAUREN MUSE . LIZ OBERNESSER . MARGARET RYDZIK . MARIANNE SCIPIONE FIFI SHERIDAN . LAURIE SMITH . DOUGLAS STEVENS . LYN STEVENS . TORY THORMAN . TYLER TINSWORTH . BEVERLEY TOEPKE . JOE WILLIAMS . MIHA ZAJEC

A WALK ON THE WEST SIDE

RICK DARK/COURTESY THAMES & HUDSON

BY STEFAN DOYNO

ONCE UPON A TIME, in New York City, there was an abandoned railroad. Today, the High Line has not only become an international tourist attraction in New York City, but has also transformed our idea of an urban escape. In the new book On The High Line: Exploring America’s Most Original Urban Park (Thames & Hudson), Annik La Farge produces the first illustrated guide to the new and beloved landmark. La Farge’s work features seven chapters and over 400 photographs illustrating details of the park along with a foldout map for visitors.

Located 30 feet above the hectic, traffic-ridden West Side streets of the Meatpacking District, the High Line and its gardens have encouraged a new neighborhood filled with galleries and glamour. La Farge’s introduction explains the compelling history behind this new park.

Beginning in 1999, Friends of the High Line was formed when Joshua David and Robert Hammond attended a communityplanning board meeting regarding the future of the defunct New York Central Railroad. The two men argued to save the elevated stretch known as the High Line. Over the past 10 years, the duo

The High Line, a one-and-a-half-mile abandoned, elevated, railroad track that snakes through Manhattan’s West Side, has become a new and beloved landmark for the city.

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Clockwise from top left: Visitors take a break at the “Death Avenue” amphitheater, which creates a new way for New Yorkers to engage with traffic—as an audience to an artform, away from

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stress; Wildflower Field, one of the most beautiful and peaceful landscapes of the High Line, is located from 27th to 29th streets (it was planted with a variety of species that were native to the old railroad and grew spontaneously when the train stopped running); the vegetal wall at 17th Street has vines of flowering clematis and honeysuckle plants; among the greenery used for the High Line is echinacea, which is known for its medicinal qualities; a night view of the High Line between 14th and 16th streets; visitors sit on benches next to grasses that contribute to the essential character and qualities of the landscape; the section of the High Line that stretches from 23rd to 26th streets. The High Line is designed to slow a visitor down and provide a restbit from the rush-about modern world existing just 30 feet below.

Opposite page: The New York Times observed that the High Line is “conceived as a series of interwoven events, like the chapters of a book.”

Here, the Washington Grasslands, a breezy, open plaza that is just north of the shady and enclosed Gansevoort Woodlands. This page: Visitors and residents take in the urban oasis that is the High Line.

raised money and awareness to make what was once an idea into a reality. Along the way, notable New Yorkers, including designer Diane von Furstenberg and Andre Balázs of the Standard Hotels, joined the cause. Still, it was not just these powerful citizens who have supported this project but the majority of the community.

La Farge herself lives above the High Line in Chelsea. She has been writing for “Livin’ The High Line,” a blog she created in 2009. It, like her book, discusses High Line happenings, like chronicling a falcon who lives its life on the ledge of the Drug Enforcement Agency building on 17th Street. She

The photographs spectacularly capture the vibrance and beauty of the High Line for the many different things that it is, which includes being a

also discusses, nostalgically, the Meatpacking District, remembering when the area was known for technologically advanced refrigerators rather than lines outside of “it” clubs.

The photographs spectacularly capture the vibrance and beauty of the High Line for the many different things that it is, which includes being a lightning rod for other artistic visions.

La Farge writes: “The High Line is a great, unfolding gallery where this urban work of art can be viewed in real time.” The middle section of the High Line is a front-row seat to some of the most incredible buildings made possible by some of the most famous architects in the world, including Frank Gehry’s IAC building, known for its sail-like detail, and the Chelsea Nouvel. Art lovers can appreciate the enormous amount of creativity that flows throughout New York City as the High Line has become a dedicated space for public art.

“Friends of the High Line, the group that saved and oversaw the design of the elevated park, employs a full-time curator.

And, over the years, commissions have included works in a wide variety of mediums, including music, photography, dance, landscape painting, sculpture, sound performance, and even roving food carts,” writes La Farge. Perhaps the greatest gallery to be found on the High Line is the High Line itself. u For more information on On The High Line, available May 1, please visit anniklafarge.com.

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lightning rod for other artistic visions.

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PALM BEACH

REAL ESTATE’S RENAISSANCE

BY JONATHAN MILLER

ONE OF THE primary characteristics of the U.S. coastal housing markets, after the dust settled from the collapse of Lehman Brothers, has been a sustained period of high-end market strength. Trophy properties are seeing new demand.

The sudden end to an era of reckless bank underwriting and subsequent entry into a period of fiscal austerity was expected to disproportionately crush the luxury housing market. Easy access to credit allowed for many consumers to live beyond their means.

The onset of the credit crunch led to the overnight evaporation of the secondary market for jumbo mortgages, too large to be purchased by ailing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While the federal government focused on the former GSEs, little attention was given to improving access to mortgage financing for high-end housing. Banks now have to hold jumbo mortgages in their own portfolios rather than offload the risk to investors hungry for bigger returns. The much tougher jumbo mortgage financing requirements were expected to bring a collapse of high-end housing prices and grind sales activity to a halt. But that isn’t how it played out.

The price spread between high-end and starter homes has expanded over the past several years despite irrational mortgage underwriting standards for jumbo mortgages. In fact,

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a remarkable number of home purchases at the high end of the market have been paid with cash rather than obtaining mortgage financing at commercial banks, thereby bypassing the lending industry’s legacy of poor lending decisions in the prior decade. The global accumulation of wealth during the global economic boom enabled many investors after its end to seek out luxury housing in the U.S., helping coastal markets outperform others.

The weakness of the U.S. dollar against other foreign currencies, specifically in Europe, South America, and Asia has brought investors to U.S. soil in droves. Initially, this was viewed as a currency play where wealthy foreign investors were simply taking advantage of the sharp discount for U.S. housing. While the favorable exchange rates may have tipped the balance towards the acquisition of U.S. assets like housing because of the perceived discount, investors were also moving their assets into a relatively more politically and economically stable environment.

Will the use of cash in housing purchases continue?

It seems likely, perhaps out of necessity. Rational jumbo mortgage underwriting standards and the creation of stable secondary market for jumbo markets is not expected to return for years. Once those problems are eventually resolved, the widening gap between luxury housing and the balance of the market could very well widen further.

Quest rounded up a group of experts who represent the very best of real estate in New York City and beyond, who in their own words, comment about this bold new world. u

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L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P ) / E VA N J O S E P P H ( A PA RTM E N T )

Chairman, Douglas Elliman / 212.891.7000 / elliman.com

WHEN I am asked to comment the availability of low-interest mortgages and reduced on my beliefs about the New inventory levels. While many point to the government York real estate market and how deficits as a potential problem for real estate, I believe it will perform over the next deficits will ultimately cause inflation, which has, in the few years, I generally answer past, produced rising real estate prices.

Obviously, local politics also play a role in this and we with, “Tell me how the stock market is going to perform and will be voting for a new mayor soon. Let us hope that we then I can answer how the real will have a mayor that is pro-business, strong on crime, and reasonable about how much tax any of us can, and estate market will do.”

This has proven to be the will, pay before we decide to move elsewhere. u case over the last 20 years, at least as it relates to New York City real estate. This is most likely true because the economy of New York City is very dependent on the financial industry located here. Unlike the rest of the country, New York City real estate rebounded very quickly as the stock market stabilized in 2010. In fact, it is not really necessary for the stock market to go up to influence the buyers for New York City properties to come into the market. All that is needed is a stable stock market—one that isn’t necessarily going up a lot; but one that is not going down every day.

I feel very confident that the real estate market will remain healthy over the next few years, as the economy continues its slow but steady rebound. This is all aided by An apartment at 400 Fifth Avenue in New York, New York. List price: $10,750,000.

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NIKKI FIELD Senior Vice President, Associate Broker, Sotheby's International Realty / 212.606.7669 / nikkifield.com

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995 Fifth Avenue, or "The Residence," in New York, New York.

List price: $30,000,000.

floorplans as the building is still under construction. New development has roared back to life from its recessionary slumber and there appears to be no lack of eager buyers.

The climate is good news for buyers and sellers, alike. I see it at the Field Team every day. Sales are up and inventory is decreasing. Current conditions are encouraging for our local buyers and sellers and the international investors are giving us the added fuel to keep our developers building. The economy is growing sufficiently, suggesting that Manhattan luxury real estate has proven its resiliency yet again. I look forward to representing our clients in the new market stability and delivering more record-breaking sales. u

L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P ) / V H T P H OTO G R A P H Y ( A PA RTM E N T )

THE DOW is rising, the European Central Bank is moving forward, and interest rates are on an upward trend. All three forces signal one thing for Manhattan residential real estate: stability, stability, stability!

These key economic events are major decision-making factors for our domestic buyers and sellers. I am convinced that they are a harbinger of a renewed market confidence, currently translating into increased sales, especially at the top end of the market.

Today, the main factor influencing Manhattan residential real estate and fueling our sales surge is the international buyer. Foreigners are not as influenced by the Dow, or even rising interest rates, as we are. Rather, they are keenly focused on the dollar’s value on the world stage, recognizing that the U.S. is a proven safe investment haven. These buyers will become increasingly important for us as two of our senators are currently preparing to introduce a bipartisan bill that would give residence visas to foreigners who spend at least $500,000 on residential real estate in the United States.

Worth noting—I have secured deals with three international billionaire buyers this quarter for $250 million in one building alone. These mega-buys are from

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ELIZABETH ANN STRIBLING-KIVLAN

L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P )

Director of Marketing and Business Development, Stribling / 212.585.4542 / stribling.com

2012 IS EMERGING as an of glass—with a shared private garden. Sales launched just interesting year in the New seven weeks ago and, to date, over a third of the building has York real estate market—par- entered into contract. What can explain this demand? First, ticularly in Brooklyn, which is a relatively low amount of high-end, well-appointed, and no longer seen as an alternative well-laid out condominiums in the area created by the lull to Manhattan, but has instead in new construction over the last couple of years throughout become sought-after in its the city. Record low interest rates for anyone with great own right. Brooklyn’s unique credit and good post-closing liquidity also contributes to neighborhoods, trendy shops the demand. The persistence of this current trend rests on and restaurants, and old-world a variety of factors, including the ongoing strength of the charm are highly valued by stock market, freeing up of lending at low rates, and ongoing locals and, increasingly, by foreign purchasers. Known improvement in the United States and European financial for its diverse housing stock, Brooklyn offers a variety of and job markets. This year will be a pivotal one in the real single- and multi-family home options, including pre-War estate arena. For Brooklyn and for the city at large, we can co-ops and contemporary new condos with proximity to only hope that its strong and stable start will continue. u outstanding parks and waterfront promenades.

Market activity is brisk: open houses in prime areas around the million-dollar price point are experiencing extraordinary attendance and, recently, we saw a record price achieved for a Brooklyn Heights townhouse, giving downtown Manhattan a solid run for its money. Stribling’s newly launched project at 20 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights is enjoying tremendous traffic. Built in 1885 as a candy factory for Mason Mints and Mason Dots, it has been reconceived by developer Canyon Johnson Urban Realty to offer 38 units in two buildings—one vintage and one newly constructed A rendering of the living room at 20 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights.

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KIRK HENCKELS Executive Vice President, Director of Stribling Private Brokerage / 212.452.4402 / stribling.com

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have in London. It provides excellent press to said trend, which will probably continue to build as new condominium products come to market in the next two years and New York becomes the “place to be” for the oligarchs of the world.

Domestic buyers returned to the market in significant numbers in 2011 and continue to be increasingly active, especially at the very high end. But unlike the peak of the market when almost any level of quality would sell, buyers have become extremely sensitive to condition, overall quality, and value. Properties either sell “fast and high” or “slow and low.” While it is not easy to pick the point of inflection on a bell curve chart that is gyrating, the luxury real estate market feels like it has regained its momentum and enthusiasm. u

998 Fifth Avenue in New York, New York. List price: $22,000,000. For more information, contact Cornelia Eland at 212.452.4384.

L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P )

IN AUGUST 2011 we asked, “What to think about a world that has come to such extremes?”

While the international situation is always fraught with problems, in recent years these problems have seemingly become more broad and more serious in their global ramifications. This continues to be the case, with a few issues subsiding and new ones arriving on the scene, both political and economic.

What is quite remarkable is that the United States economy, which includes Wall Street, seems to be slowly and somewhat steadily recovering, though opinions vary. Since Manhattan luxury residential real estate is normally a lag factor behind our economy, it, too, is recovering at a similarly slow pace.

While one reads about some spectacularly high sale prices, most of these are anomalies. They do, however, signal the return of the money-means-nothing-if-this-is-what-I-want attitude, which was prevalent during the bubble, even if on a different scale. At least three of these recent sales have exceeded $10,000 per square foot, a number never reached during the zenith of the market. The highly publicized $88,000,000-sale at 15 Central Park West for a trophy property by a Russian billionaire is an example of such an anomaly. It is an example of the increasing but overstated trend of oligarchs defining the top of our market, as they

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ANDREW SAUNDERS

L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P )

President, Saunders & Associates / 631.537.5454 / hamptonsrealestate.com or saunders.com

THE PACE of sales of residential properties in the Hamptons has been brisk. The latest move that began in mid-January has been characterized by significant activity in both the upper end and popular priced areas of the market. The current activity is noteworthy in that the professional investor is again transacting. Builders, developers, and investors have purchased prime, south-of-the-highway parcels in Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, and Wainscott.

The activity has been so prolific that the inventory of such property is quite thin and we are starting to see signs of inflation in the asking prices for these premium sites.

While sales in the upper end tend to make headlines, the critical mass of activity in the Hamptons occurs in the $2 million and under market. Week after week, the largest number of deals occurs in this area and suggests that the popular priced end of the market is fluid. The movement in the luxury and popular priced regions of the Hamptons real estate market during the first quarter is in stark contrast to the markets of 2008 and 2009 when the financial meltdown paralyzed the Hamptons market. Business started to loosen up in 2010 and 2011 but was negatively impacted in both of those years by external events. In 2010, real estate sales were respectable until the flash crash in early May. This event

260 Jobs Lane in Bridgehampton, New York. List price: $24,995,000.

scared prospective purchasers and resulted in a lackluster summer of sales. 2011 was characterized by robust sales through the end of July, but activity was marginalized in early August by the downgrade in the credit rating of the United States and sales for the balance of the selling season were unremarkable. While today’s activity is noteworthy for its strength and conviction, we are reminded that extraneous events can impact sales of Hamptons real estate and always advise our customers to buy quality, at all price points.

I anticipate continued strength in our market in 2012 provided we maintain a reasonable level of clarity regarding the issues impacting our economy and country. Lack of visibility for the future unnerves buyers and undermines our business. I believe in the future of Hamptons real estate. u

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ROBERT BLAND Vice President and Brokerage Manager, Sotheby's International Realty / 203.869.4343 / sothebyshomes.com

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Lakefront estate in Greenwich, Connecticut. List price: $10,750,000.

contract, or are in final negotiations on multiple properties asking $12 to $15 million. This well exceeds 2011 activity during this same period. As a company that dominates this segment of the market and leads in overall sales volume in Greenwich, we witness all of this first and view these sales as a strong indication that the upper end of the market is gaining strength. (According to the MLS, Greenwich only saw seven sales at $10 million and above in 2011.)

Additionally, there remains a very active market for properties offered at $1 to $3 million, a range in which both the median and average prices reside. The highly sought-after Old Greenwich and Riverside neighborhoods of Greenwich are also very busy, having witnessed multiple bidding wars for properties in all price ranges in the last few months. u

L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P ) / I M A G E S 4 ( H O U S E )

GREENWICH has long been considered one of the most desirable towns in southern Fairfield County. Recently, it has been experiencing the benefits of the economic recovery at a faster pace than other parts of the nation. While affected by the downturn of 2008, Greenwich was not hit as hard as much of the country. Its natural beauty and plentiful amenities, excellent public and private schools, and close proximity to Manhattan by train have made the town increasingly attractive to many homebuyers. The true fundamentals that draw people to Greenwich remain.

Two important factors deeply affect and preserve property values in Greenwich, enhancing its desirability. Greenwich is a well-run town, carrying very little municipal debt, which translates into low property taxes, especially for such an affluent place. This makes the houses here particularly attractive, especially when compared to the higher taxed towns that surround it. These factors, coupled with sound planning, have helped to preserve the beauty and graciousness of the town, preventing overdevelopment and maintaining Greenwich’s New England charm.

Recently, Sotheby’s International Realty has witnessed a surge in activity for Greenwich properties priced over $10 million. Since January of this year, we have closed, put under

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PATRICIA J. PETERSEN

L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P ) / D O U G L A S E LL I M A N

President and C.E.O., Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty / 631.423.1180 / danielgale.com

NOT TOO LONG ago, we touted trophy home sales and saw record appreciation in residential sales year after year.

Well, the market changed. A ripple of bad housing news for the likes of Florida, Nevada, and California grew with “short sales” and foreclosures that doomed and gloomed, ultimately hitting the New York City area after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

As we celebrate our company’s ninetieth anniversary, currently celebrated as Long Island’s premier firm, we see a very encouraging trend emerging from a market that, perhaps, faltered more than most we’ve experienced in years past for the North Shore. As the leader of a company that dominates this area I want to be clear that I am bullish, but cautiously so. We do not foresee a full or traditional housing recovery until prices are, indeed, on a slow and steady incline.

Although I seldom credit Washington for anything too proactive, the economic force of the Fed’s unprecedented effort to reduce mortgage rates and keep them low has finally made a difference. The economic gain for borrowers has overshadowed the importance of other stimulus efforts, being impactful when it comes to buying a house.

Low rates have actually pumped up many consumers’ ability to save money. Combine that with growing employment and

increasing consumer confidence, and we have what almost feels like a perfect storm—without the storm. Remember, too, there exists an abundance of “all cash” buyers. But, without consumer confidence, a good stock market, and properties priced competitively, they often sit on the sidelines.

Fortunately, today’s consumer feels better and can invest in stocks or a home again. We see multiple offers at the “right” price. The alternative of no-yield cash or low-yield T-bonds is becoming less attractive as the Dow climbs and housing stabilizes. We at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty have renewed enthusiasm for both the present and the future market, knowing full well that strategic pricing and targeted local and global marketing will continue to play an important role in our success. u

Twinight on Centre Island in Oyster Bay, New York. List price: $17,500,000.

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WITH THE DOW less than still above historical averages. However, the trend is a very one thousand points off of its good one and I think if we continue in this direction for all-time high, interest rates at one or two more years, we will be cooking with gas again. record lows, and signs that the All of these things influence the real estate market, economy is improving steadily, whether you are a buyer or seller—and whether you are who wouldn’t be bullish on looking to buy or sell a $100,000, $1 million, or $10 million real estate? I certainly am, property. This holds true in every market, from Peoria to but a few things have to be Palm Beach. I love analogies, and the good news is that I figured out first. Personally, I believe that we are in the seventh inning of the real estate look at two different statistics: recovery. I am bullish about the outcome of the game! I just consumer confidence and the don’t want to put anything in the “W” column yet, as we debt levels of the American taxpayer. Ultimately, the first still have a couple more innings to play. u is directly influenced by the second. The American people haven’t completely bought into the recovery yet, mostly because they’re struggling under too much debt. The situation is improving, as are the statistics, but I think we need to continue this trend for a couple more years before people really start to feel good again.

In real estate, we are continuing to work through an overabundance of housing supply created by too much building, as well as the foreclosure crisis. The housing supply continues to be pared back by buyers taking advantage of low interest rates and lower prices to the point that we now have manageable numbers, even though we are 210 Via Del Mar in Palm Beach, Florida. List price: $24,900,000.

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L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P ) / RO B E RT S TE V E N S ( H O U S E )

Senior Associate, Principal, Barrett Welles Property Group / 561.301.5266 / barrettwelles.com

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L I B R A RY O F CO N G R E S S ( M A P ) / RO B E RT S TE V E N S ( H O U S E )

Agent, Sotheby’s International Realty / 561.301.2211 / sothebyshomes.com

THIS YEAR IN the Palm Beach real estate market, a very different scenario from last year has unfolded. First let’s look at the rental market.

We usually have a fair number of rentals during the season, but this year in preparation for the Palm Beach season, people began flocking to our beautiful and idyllic island to find that perfect rental for the time they planned to spend here.

The volume of rentals was truly staggering and, by the time December 1st came along, it was very slim pickings for decent seasonal rentals. In addition, there have been more annual rentals than we have seen previously and a number have options for multiple annual renewals.

Next, let’s look at the sales market. Although residential sales started off a little more slowly than last year, it is important to keep in mind that our selling season lasts well into June, and the current volume of pending sales is approximately two and a half times our 2012 sold volume, suggesting that we will see strong sales numbers for the balance of the year. Also worthy of note is the fact that the number of days that properties are on the market has declined dramatically and properties are selling at a much smaller discount to the asking price than they were last year. This, of course, is largely due to sellers

241 Banyan Road in Palm Beach, Florida. List price: $15,900,000.

pricing their properties more realistically. In short, these factors signal that the residential market in Palm Beach is turning out to be far healthier than we have seen in a number of years.

Condominium sales are following a similar pattern to residential sales with a strong number of pending sales of very high-end properties. As with residential properties, days on the market have decreased and the discount to asking prices has narrowed.

All in all, we feel very optimistic about the market and believe that this year will produce strong results, especially in the Palm Beach area. u

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BY DANIEL CAPPELLO

ONE OF THE GREATEST joys for a historian is that unexpected find: the letter that’s gone missing for centuries, the covered-up signature on a painting, the box of documents buried in the corner of an attic or a basement cellar. For historian Sam Watters, that joy came five years ago in the form of an online note in the archive of photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston, leading to a discovery of hundreds of almost perfectly preserved slides documenting American gardens. The images, hand-colored glass lantern slides that hadn’t been seen in their full glory for

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GARDEN VIEWS

Octagonal Garden, ca. 1918, at Laurelton Hall, Louis Tiffany Foundation, Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Opposite page: Terracing to Harbor, ca. 1914, at Claraben Court, Benjamin Stern House, Roslyn Harbor, New York (top); Herms Along Pathway, 1912, at The Orchard, James Lawrence Breese House, Southampton, New York.

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of 1,100 hand-colored lantern slides, which had been produced for the lectures she gave across America on garden design and planting. Her lectures had a legendary reach, from the North to the South, from the East Coast to the West.

In his preface to the book, C. Ford Peatross, Director of the Center for Architecture, Design, and Engineering at the Library of Congress, thanks Watters and Acanthus Press “for bringing Johnston and her times back to life so magnificently.”

With 250 color plates of slides from the library’s collection, the book presents Johnston front and center in the Garden Beautiful movement, as both a Progressive Era advocate and Above: Stairwell Garden, ca. 1922, Janitor Apartment, New York City.

Johnston was struck by the care a New York City janitor took in salvaging discarded plants and nursing them back to life. Opposite page: View East to Common Garden, Fall 1920, at Turtle Bay Gardens, New York, New York (top); North Terrace Fountain, ca. 1921, at Jones Wood, New York, New York (bottom).

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over 70 years, were found in almost pristine condition.

Watters sifted through and identified the gardens and houses in each of the rare, colorful plates, revealing the astounding breadth of these heretofore anonymous miniatures from lost worlds of beauty and privilege. The full catalog of Johnston’s garden slides will be published this month on the Library of Congress website, and 250 reproductions of the slides, culled from a rare archive in the Library of Congress’s collection, will be published in a breathtaking new book written by Sam Watters and published by Acanthus Press in collaboration with the Library of Congress, Gardens for a Beautiful America, 18951935: Photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston.

Johnston remains a singular figure in the history of photography. She was one of the first professional American women photographers and a leader in the house-and-garden movement that emerged with new wealth at the turn of the 20th century. In the 1930s, she deeded to the Library of Congress her collection

“The most ardent and enthusiastic horticulturist I ever met was an eastside janitor who gave the best of the sunlight...[to] stunted geraniums.�

“It is not what you crowd into an but what you judiciuosly leave out.”

—Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1923

an artist working with garden clubs and horticultural societies in an effort to green tenement lots, parks, and row-house yards that were ravaged by Gilded Age pollution and neglect.

The images, like the gardens and green spaces that they represent, are beautiful works of art unto themselves. In this stunning journey through some of America’s most splendid landscapes, we are treated to some of the greatest feats in the history of gardening—and are reminded of the core tenets of good design: the mindful and tasteful distribution of scale, proportion, and color. From George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia to great gardens of Pasadena, California (not to mention a janitor’s garden in New York City and the now iconic Grey Gardens, long before it was under the Bouvier bailiwick), Gardens for a Beautiful America is a rousing reminder that this land, verily, was made for you and me. u At left: The book cover of Gardens for a Beautiful America, by Sam Watters (Acanthus, April 2012). Above: View West to Pergola, 1914, at Grey Gardens, Robert Carmer Hill House, East Hampton, New York. Opposite page: View from the House, 1914, at Grey Gardens (bottom); Rose Garden, ca. 1914, at Willowmere, Rear Admirable Aaron Ward House, Roslyn Harbor, New York.

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allotted space that makes it beautiful

IT’S A BIG SMALL WORLD

BY MICHAEL GREENE

MY FATHER HAS a magnificent obsession. Where others

see dusty old stuff cluttering their attics and basements, he finds artifacts of rare beauty, craftsmanship, and historic importance. Dad first tested his instincts as a teenage devotee of vintage music, helping transform a sleepy New York store named Times Square Records into a thriving mecca for Rhythm and Blues, Doo-wop, and Rock ’n Roll.

That led to his own Philadelphia-based chain of twentythree Record Museum stores and, in more recent decades, our family-run, mail-order, Internet-based Oldies.com. Our specialty reissue labels celebrate the best and most neglected in music, movie, and related memorabilia.

But it’s with his private pursuit and collecting of antique toys and trains that my father (once an art student) has truly let his aesthetic and archeological obsessions run wild. After fifty years of dogged pursuit, he has amassed a collection of rare and precious miniatures. Currently, they number more than 25,000.

The focus is on turn-of-the-century toys that were meticulously handcrafted before the age of mass production.

Nicknamed the “Jerni Collection”—a combination of my father and mother’s names, Jerry and Nina—this treasure trove is unmatched by any other in the world, as we’ve been told by the folks at Sotheby’s, where a sampling of goodies was on display briefly last year to feel out a possible sale to a museum or elsewhere.

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A scenic view of late 19th-century Europe, portrayed with toys from the Jerni Collection, owned by Nina and Jerry Greene. All photography by David Behl.

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Now approaching seventy, my father wishes to see his most fragile “child” leave the house to be taken care of properly and shared in perpetuity—in a grand and worthy public exhibit.

Sotheby’s vice chairman, David Redden, shares this vision: “Imagine a vast space filled with the rarest toys in the most perfect condition. The Jerni Collection is a passionate homage to the Golden Age of toy making, but on a scale that is breathtaking. Tens of thousands of miniature works of art— trains, stations, villages, carousels, Ferris wheels—conjure up a privileged world of beauty, magic, and sheer happiness. To see this collection is to be moved beyond words.”

This page, clockwise from top left: Gebrûder Bing toys, circa 1900; an Ernst Planke cotton mill, circa 1910; Mârklin steam engine—measuring five feet—was designed for FAO Schwarz, circa 1905; from top left: Two of the six rooms housing the Jerni Collection; Nina and Jerry Greene; the largest, most elaborate station that Mârklin produced before World War I with lamps designed to work with kerosene, circa 1904.

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DAV I D B E H L

Mârklin caisson and street lamp, circa 1900. Opposite page, clockwise

The irony is that, for most of its life, the Jerni Collection has been a secret stashed in a 5,400-square-foot lair, shared with only a lucky few friends and collectors. An expert at Antiques Roadshow described the collection as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

As children, many specimens in the immaculate collection were within arm’s reach to us. My father would tell us that it was O.K. to play with them, as long as we were careful.

But little me was clearly overstepping the day I carried a red pedal car to the driveway to wheel about. My parents were shocked when they returned home after witnessing the

same item fetch $37,500 at auction.

Years later, I’ve come to learn of the history attached to these toys. Many scenic accessory pieces (often more interesting to my father than the actual trains) are miniature replicas of European buildings and bridges destroyed in the great world wars. My father has also located numerous oneof-a-kind pieces originally handcrafted for special exhibits.

It wasn’t until the collection was first on view at Sotheby’s that I realized just how special it is. Seeing the impact it had on the thousands of visitors made me appreciate my father’s greatest accomplishment. His obsession has become his legacy. u

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GREENING DOWNTOWN

BY GEORGINA SCHAEFFER 00 QUEST

T H E B AT TE RY CO N S E RVA N C Y

2012 MARKS A BANNER YEAR for the Battery, with 97 percent of the 25 acres either completed or under construction. The horticultural oasis situated on the southern prow of Manhattan is perhaps entering its single most revitalized period in its 300-year history. Back in the first half of the 18th century, the promenade overlooking New York harbor was beloved by fashionable New Yorkers, but as the posh populous continued to move north, the Battery was all but forgotten and fell into a state of deep disrepair. Yet over the last 20 years, this plot of land has had its sea wall restored, its upper promenade refurbished, the Peter Minuit Plaza constructed, a Bosque garden planted, an

urban farm developed, and much, much more.

Sitting at the helm of this project is Warrie Price, who founded the Battery Conservancy in 1993. In this role, she recruited the world-renowned Piet Oudolf (best known to New Yorkers as the landscape designer behind the High Line) to New York City as the master planner for the project; commissioned Frank Gehry to design a children’s play space; and developed a unique Children learn sustainable farm practices at the educational Battery Park Urban Farm, which opened a year ago. Opposite page: Piet Oudolf’s Bosque garden features 140 mature London plane trees and 34,000 perennial plants.

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This horticultural oasis on the waterfront may be entering its most revitalized period in its 300-year history. In 2012, 97 percent of the 25 acre park will be complete or under construction.

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SeaGlass carousel—the first pieces of which are set to arrive later this month. “One of the things that drew me to this project was the relatively small scale,” says Price, who was recruited out of Harvard by the city to work in civic government, “but it’s important to so many people.” It may be small in size, but the Battery is big when it comes to ideas.

What is most consistent in the plan for the Battery is the extreme care and thoughtfulness to incorporate the history of the Battery, New York Harbor, and the city itself into the plan.

“I’m listening to the landscape. The landscape is telling me her stories,” says Price. The first of these stories was unveiled in 2000 with “The River that Flows Two Ways” by artist Wopo Holup, consisting of 37 panels set into the seawall railing that tell the marine, natural, and human history of the Battery and the Hudson from the Ice Age to the present. Similarly, the granite

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bench that runs the length of the upper promenade—“The Battery Wave”—not only echoes the lapping waves, but the stone, from a Stony Creek, Connecticut quarry, is the same as that which was used for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. “You always feel you should be giving her a bit of a nod,” says Price.

The one-acre urban farm garnered numerous headlines in local press because of its outstanding educational program, landing a feature on the Rachael Ray show. But, again, it is in the details that this project truly stands out. The bamboo fencing (shaped to play tribute to Zelda—an American wild turkey who has made the Battery her home since 2003) was reclaimed from “Big Bambú: You Can’t, You Don’t, and You Won’t Stop,” a show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Roof Garden. The SeaGlass Carousel project, now underway, will not only provide a light source for the park in the evening, but also pay hommage

to Castle Clinton, the national landmark that once served as the site of the New York Aquarium. In the carousel, the rider sits within an iridescent fish that glides through the sights and sounds of a 360-degree aquatic adventure (17 of the fish have already been sponsored, and another 13 await adoption).

The list of these notes and references to history go on and on in these projects at the Battery, but it is the gardens themselves that deserve the most recognition. From the sunny waterfront promenade to the shady Spanish Bosque, the gardens reflect the full vocabulary of horticultural design. The New York Times named “The Labyrinth for Contemplation” one of “5 Hidden Children play in the 40-foot-wide granite spiral fountain. Opposite page: “The Gardens of Remembrance” pay tributes to those who died and to those who survived September 11th with flowers that grow back stronger every year.

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Clockwise from top left: An aeriel view of the urban farm; the Battery Conservancy’s Warrie Price with Bill and Ophelia Rudin; the gardens embrace the waterfront while greeting millions of visitors to the Battery every year.

The “Gardens of Remembrance” are planted with perennials and native plants which, instead of being installed yearly, are nurtured to return stronger every year—a fitting tribute to New York City.

Gems of New York,” saying “to follow the path transports you out of downtown Manhattan and into your own thoughts— though look up and you can see the Statue of Liberty in one direction and the rising One World Trade Center in the other.”

The Battery became the main evacuation route during September 11th. Today, the “Gardens of Remembrance” pay tribute to those who lost their lives and those who survived, providing a place to reflect. These gardens combine 114 varieties of perennials and native plants, which, instead of being installed yearly, are nurtured to return stronger every year—a lasting and fitting tribute to the spirit of New York City and the Battery. u For more information about The Battery Conservancy, please call 212.344.3491 or thebattery.org.

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A GENTLEMAN & SCHOLAR

This page: Albert Hadley photographed for Quest, April 2002. Opposite: a study for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, 1974.

ALBERT HADLEY, often called “The Dean of Design,� died

on Friday, March 30, at the age of 91. After attending Parsons School of Design, Hadley began his career with Eleanor Brown at McMillen in 1956. Then in 1962, he began to work for Sister Parish, where his first project was the breakfast room at the White House for the Kennedys. Two years later,

he became a full partner in Parish Hadley. Beloved by the entire design community, Hadley leaves a legacy of work that defines 20th-century interior design. His influence is wide-reaching, but he also leaves an imprint on the hearts and minds of those who knew him. Quest asked a few of his friends how they will remember Albert Hadley. -GS u APRIL 2012 121

This page: a sketch for an exhibition at the New York Public Library. Opposite, clockwise from top left: a study from a project with Billy Baldwin; sketches so clearly illustrate Hadley’s process; Hadley on the cover of Quest in April, 2002.

NANCY DRUCKMAN He was so brilliant as a designer and his interiors were works of art—with an aesthetic and design sensibility that imparted a certain sense of value and appropriateness. I felt so honored to be a client of his. He didn’t only create beautiful homes, but he created a design for living with a sort of rationality. He had a sense not only of elegance and proportion, but also how you lived your life. I’m so glad our lives intersected. He had a profound effect on not only the houses we live in, but the way in which we lived in them.

LUCY LAMPHERE When I first met Albert it was in the context of Sister Parish and there was such a striking difference between them. It was such an unlikely marriage and yet it so obviously worked. His sense of color was pitch perfect and he did beautiful sketches. He had such a great kindness and great sense of dignity. He was always willing to go anywhere for his clients and was always excited about 122 QUEST

it. I don’t think his designs ever got old—they were timeless and never trendy. I could never imagine a time when he wasn’t on his game. Even when the budgets were small, he always worked to get it right. It was a life-long connection and friendship. I am honored to be a part of his legacy. As I was interested in design and building things, he too was always fantasizing about having a workshop to design and build things, and play. I would have loved to see him realize his dream. Maybe now...

LOUISE GRUNWALD Albert was a gentleman, a scholar, and a great friend. He was immensely talented with a strict architect’s eye. I had enormous fun working with him for over 30 years. I shall miss him always.

My friend, Siri, and I had a great competition on whose dog would get on Albert’s bulletin board. Albert, probably to the detriment of his business, was incredibly generous, giving us all so many presents through the years and Goo Goos every Christmas.

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DIANA QUASHA Over 30 years working with Albert, I saw how he used his own vocabulary to tell a different story in each of my homes. But you could always tell that he had been there...a whiff or a real “odeur.”

He was utterly un-snobby when it came to provenance. In the early ’80s, he painted our large boiseried living room in white and scattered wicker furniture over a Portuguese carpet. He was always open to including some odd thing I picked up, saying: “Well, it’s absolutely marvelous!” I suspect half the time he was being gracious. I loved his ability to mix whimsy and classicism.

He so enjoyed a bit of mischief in an otherwise sedate setting.

His wallpapers have followed me everywhere. They are visual Prozac. When we moved, my daughter was so relieved to see the old “shell and dot” in the front hall! To her, that meant she was home. He made us homes, never forgetting who lived in them.

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This page, clockwise from top left: a signed study of the living room of Britt Smith; sketches published in the 2004 issue of Quest; the closet hall for “Kaluna,” the Manhasset home of William and Babe Paley. Opposite, above: Mrs. Astor’s Library, completed with Sister Parish; Albert Hadley (below).

This page: a study for a living room for Carly Simon’s apartment on 73rd Street. Opposite: “Time for Change: Hadley self-portraits.”

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MARIO BUATTA Albert was a great teacher. He loved teaching young people and showing you things you hadn’t seen before. I first met him when I was working in the decorating department of B. Altman.

I recognized him from a photo of a room published in Vogue.

He was responsible for my beginning. He encouraged me to go to Parsons School of Design’s summer course in Europe. Albert was terrific. He continued to inspire young people to reach into the past and make it modern until the day he left us.

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April 27–29

Antique Garden Furniture Show & Sale

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The country’s original, largest, and most important venue for authentic garden antiques, the Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale celebrates its 20th anniversary at The New York Botanical Garden from Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, 2012.

The show takes place in an expansive tent surrounded by flowering trees, plants, and shrubs outside the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and is essential for leading collectors and designers as well as buyers seeking expert advice. During the event, more than 30 of the top dealers in the United States offer their finest quality pieces such as fountains, statues, benches, urns, sundials, birdbaths, and botanical prints.

Throughout the show, antiques experts and exhibitors offer informative tours and talks and will assist buyers looking for the perfect piece to complement a garden, landscape, or interior. For information and tickets, visit nybg.org/antiques-show

Preview Party

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This year’s event opens with the 20th Anniversary Preview Party on Thursday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Preview Party allows enthusiasts and collectors the exclusive opportunity to be the first to view the antiques and to make early purchases while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The evening also includes a Silent Auction offering one-of-a-kind items and experiences, and the Collectors’ Plant Sale that features rare and exotic plants.

Proceeds from the benefit directly support the horticultural programs and work of the curators and gardeners who are responsible for making The New York Botanical Garden one of the most important horticultural showplaces in the world. Tickets to the Preview Party begin at $200. For more information or to order tickets for the Preview Party, please call 718.817.8773 or e-mail cbalkonis@nybg.org

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Preview Party Chairmen Mrs. Coleman P. Burke Barbara Cirkva Schumacher Mish Tworkowski Chairmen’s Committee Mrs. Timothy M. George S. Christopher Meigher III Amy Todd Middleton Mrs. George B. Moore Katie Ridder Pennoyer Suzanne Rheinstein Show Chairmen Barbara Israel Bunny Williams Designer Chairmen Mario Nievera Renny Reynolds Collectors’ Plant Sale Chairmen James Benenson, Jr. Peter R. McQuillan Marjorie G. Rosen Joseph Singer Carmen M. Thain

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1. Charlotte Chilton, Richard Chilton, Hope Chilton, Maureen Chilton, Sigourney Weaver 2. Susan Burke, Carmen Thain 3. John Schumacher and Barbara Cirkva Schumacher 4. Barbara Israel 5. Mish Tworkowski, Patricia Stensrud 6. Mario Nievera 7. Joseph Singer, Krista Fragos 8. Martha Stewart, Kevin Sharkey 9. Maureen Chilton, Jeanne Jones 10. Katie Ridder Pennoyer and Peter Pennoyer 11. Cosby George, Leslie Needham 12. Alexandra Lebenthal

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May 19–October 21, 2012

Alison Rosa

Monet’s Garden at

About the Show On view from May 19 through October 21, 2012, at The New York Botanical Garden, Monet’s Garden examines the life and work of the great Impressionist master by highlighting his passion for gardening and the inspiration he drew from his living masterpiece, the garden on the grounds of his home in Giverny. This multifaceted exhibition features components in several venues throughout the Botanical Garden and a rich assortment of programming.

Monet’s Garden in the Conservatory Claude Monet was an avid gardener who once reflected that perhaps flowers were the reason he became a painter. This seasonally changing exhibition explores the legacy of his idyllic gardens in Giverny, France, transforming the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a floral masterpiece of diverse plants, bold colors, and dramatic forms. Designed by Tony Award-winning set designer Scott Pask, a façade of Monet’s house offers a glimpse of the artist’s view of his garden and the flowers he grew and depicted in his paintings. Other set pieces include a re-creation of his iconic Japanese footbridge and his Grande Allée, draped with flowers. Starting in July, Monet’s most famous subjects, water lilies, many of them the varieties he grew, are featured in the Conservatory Courtyard Pools.

Sponsored by and the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust Generous support from the Karen Katen Foundation Made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services Supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities Made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature Additional support provided by the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Kurt Berliner Foundation, The E.H.A. Foundation, Inc., The Grand Marnier Foundation, Great Circle Foundation Inc., and Vital Projects Fund, Inc.

About the Curator Dr. Paul Hayes Tucker, one of America’s foremost authorities on Claude Monet and Impressionism, is the Paul Hayes Tucker Distinguished Professor of Art at the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he has taught since 1978. He earned his Ph.D. from Yale in 1979 with a dissertation on Monet, the subject of five of his eleven books and three of the dozen exhibitions he has curated. In conjunction with Monet’s Garden, Dr. Tucker will present a special lecture at Sotheby’s in New York City on June 27, 6:30–7:30 p.m. For more information and to register, please call 718.817.8557.

The Artist in the Garden in the Rondina Gallery In the LuEsther T. Mertz Library’s Rondina Gallery, the exhibition communicates Monet’s personal engagement with his gardens. This intimate setting features two of Monet’s paintings never before shown together, alongside the artist’s own palette, bearing witness to the process by which Monet planned and painted his works. Rare and historic photographs of Monet and his gardens provide a glimpse into Monet’s life and a unique view of the artist at work. Correspondence and other archival documents regarding the creation of the gardens are also showcased, describing his home life and the importance of Giverny to him and his family. Visitors will also be able to access one of Monet’s sketchbooks via a touch screen. The digital sketchbook contains a host of drawings of Giverny’s water lily pond, illustrating that the renowned master’s well-known canvases are the product of considerable care and forethought.

Claude Monet The Artist’s Garden in Giverny (detail) Yale University Art Gallery Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, B.A. 1929

Claude Monet Irises (detail) Private Collection. Switzerland

Paintings and objects are on loan from Yale University Art Gallery, Musée Marmottan Monet in Paris, and several private collections.

Seasons in Giverny in the Ross Gallery Photographs by Elizabeth Murray, well known for her work helping to restore Monet’s garden and documenting it for 25 years, reveal the beauty, creativity, and inspiration that the artist found in his garden. Her photographs have traveled with Monet’s paintings to eight museums and are published annually in fine-art calendars.

Exhibitions in the Ross Gallery are made possible by the Arthur and Janet Ross Fund.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Murray

Monet to Mallarmé: Poetry Walk and Salon Series Monet’s Garden will also feature an Impressionist poetry walk and reading series co-presented with the Poetry Society of America.

Reflections of Giverny Shop in the Garden is offering high-quality garden benches in “Giverny green.”

Reproductions from Monet’s garden and made in the United States of sustainably grown teak from Southeast Asia, these elegant yet durable benches are five feet long with a gracefully curved back. For more information, visit nybgshop.org

For information and tickets visit nybg.org

Mother’s Day Weekend Garden Party May 12–13, 12–5 p.m.

Treat mom to a beautiful green retreat. Play lawn games such as badminton and croquet, fly a kite, and have a picnic among the Garden’s spectacular spring color. Professional photographers will be on hand to snap pictures for you to take home. Kids can enjoy hands-on nature activities and create a greeting card for the occasion. On May 13, take in a Bronx Arts Ensemble Family Concert, an interactive performance of the classic tale Beauty and the Beast.

For information and tickets visit nybg.org

Many of the Garden’s storm-damaged trees have come back to life. Wood collected from felled specimens such as yew, red maple, juniper, white oak, cherry, and zelkova, has been used to create exquisite bowls and vases. Every piece has been turned by hand—letting the individual character and form of the tree influence the final shape—making each truly one of a kind.

What do you expect to find at the Garden?

Not everyone has a green thumb. At Shop in the Garden, discover hand-carved bowls, botanical-infused aromatics, intricately woven scarves and textiles, and more to indulge the body and home. Of course, we wouldn’t be The New York Botanical Garden if we didn’t offer the finest gardening supplies, seasonal blossoms, and the latest in horticultural literature… But we’ve got a hunch you already knew about those.

APPEARANCES

HOUSE PRESERVE

BY HILARY GEARY

From left: The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach on Peruvian Avenue; the gracious porches of Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side.

THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE of the Mayor (although Mayor Mike doesn’t actually live there—details!) is Gracie Mansion.

The grand country house was built in 1799 by Archibald Gracie with charming porches overlooking the East River and a graceful lawn stretching down to the water. But just like any other country house, it requires endless upkeep and deep pockets. The Gracie Mansion Conservancy was formed in 1981 and 134 QUEST

this year on Leap Day they held a benefit dinner. The sold-out fête was chaired by Kitty and Stephen Sherrill and Lori and Larry Fink, raising close to a million dollars. The evening was especially festive as the Mayor and Diana Taylor greeted us all and then we were let loose to poke around the historic house. We then dined on an extraordinary feast provided by all my favorite restaurants with hors d’oeuvres from ABC Kitchen, Buddakan, Crown,

danny brown Wine Bar & Kitchen, Great Performances, Red Rooster, Tamarind, and Trattoria Romana, yum! The seated dinner menu started with chilled crab and avocado trifle from the John Dory Oyster Bar, roasted beef cap with braised short rib parmentier, mushroom duxelle and bordelaise sauce from Adour Alain Ducasse, breads from Landrot and tarte tatin from Minetta Tavern—plus those scrumptious macrarons that people line

up for from Ladurée. We also drank wonderful wines from Park Avenue Seasons.

This was really a dream of a dinner!

In the group was Tory Burch, Lauren and John Veronis, Liz and Jeff Peek, Patricia Harris, Dailey Pattee, Coco and Arie Kopelman, James Danziger, Pat and Peter Nadosy, Peggy Siegal, Patty Hambrecht, Kitty and Tommy Kempner, Alan Stillman, Jamie Drake, Amelia and Odebayo Ogunlesi, and more.

Down in Palm Beach, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach held its Annual Dinner Dance chaired by Darlene Jordan with former chairs: Audrey Gruss, Michele Kessler, Talbott Maxey, Pauline Pitt, Lesly Smith, and me serving as cochairs. This evening is not only fun and cozy, but remarkably glam. The music was provided by everybody’s favorite bandleader, Bob Hardwick and Scott

gratin and jumbo asparagus, topped off by banana upside-down cake with French vanilla ice cream and chocolate caramel tart! We were sent off into the night with a terrific goodie bag filled with such treats as a jeweled compact made especially for the Preservation Foundation by Estée Lauder, an embroidered pouch from Stubbs & Wootton, signed copies of Harry Benson’s book First Families, lavender sachets from Sew Lavender, shawls from Paola Quadretti, and fudge from Neiman Marcus! Kind of like Christmas in March, you gotta love it!

It seems like all of Palm Beach loves art and music so I have to mention the art show at Palm Beach Framemakers that Wilbur and I gave for Jessica Ross Brown, Wilbur’s very talented daughter.

This was Jessie’s first Palm Beach show and her paintings got rave reviews, and we

(Jeannie was very glam in one of her daughter’s Gigi Mortimer designs—a wonderful caftan), Tom Quick James Danziger, Missie Rennie Taylor, Alynne Massey, Ed Cox with his brother Howard, Hillie Mahoney, Britty Bardes and Johnny Damgard, Gigi and Harry Benson, Kathy and David Hamilton, Bob Nederlander, Carol and Charles Hickman, Helena and Roman Martinez, Suzanne and Michael Ainslie, Felix Mirando, Diane Kelly, Carol Rohrig, Bill Finneran, Michele and Howard Kessler, Mashi and Manucher Azmudeh, Lucy Musso, Mai Harrison, Cynthia and Mike Gibbons, and more.

It was a great treat to stop by Kristy and Jim Clark’s art-filled dazzling oceanfront manse for a chamber music concert and buffet dinner. This special soirée was hosted by Emilia and Pepe Fanjul in honor of Toby and Itzhak Perlman and

From left: Darlene Jordan and John Mashek at Preservation Foundation dinner; the Mayor and Diana Taylor greet guests at the Gracie Mansion Conservancy Dinner.

Snyder transformed the Venetian ballroom into a shimmering fantasy with a touch of pearl (this being the 30th anniversary of the event). Tables were covered in graycloths with centerpieces of silver palm trees with pearl-encrusted coconuts and white Cattleya orchid blooms and fauxpearl necklaces (that practically everyone wore home!).The menu was comprised of delights like dijonnaise-crusted rack of lamb with sweet potato and yukon-gold

are so thrilled for her! All our pals turned up to celebrate Jessie including Rand Araskog, Sunny Marlborough, Robin and John Pickett, Donna and Bill Acquavella, Maria Floyd, Afsy and Carter Pottash, Peggy and Alberto Meija, Darcy and George Gould, Lars Bolander, Shannon Donnelly, Muffy and Don Miller, John Mashek with his houseguests Jamee and Peter Gregory, Amanda Haynes-Dale, Tina Fanjul, Jeannie and Dick Pearman

the Perlman music program. I can’t think of a more delightful way to spend an evening than listening to such beautiful music in such glorious surroundings. Another night in Palm Beach, Leezy Scully and Jeannie and Dick Pearman invited pals over for drinks to toast Heather Marcus, the portrait artist. Everyone turned up to applaud this talented artist who paints enchanting portraits, including Tommy Quick, Candy and Bill Hamm. u APRIL 2012 135

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WHAT THE CHAIRS WEAR Karen Klopp, founder of What2WearWhere.com, created an elegant, Egyptian-inspired ensemble for the Society of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Spring Ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for this month’s instsallment of What The Chairs Wear.

ON APRIL 25, the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center will host the Spring Ball at the Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The event, in its fifth year, will be chaired by Tory Burch, Muffie Potter Aston, Jamie Tisch, and Caryn Zucker, and is generously sponsored by Gucci. In the dramatic and mystical setting, guests will be entertained by a performance and DJ D-Nice, who will rock the hallowed halls, laden with mystified mummies. Over 400 guests will support the organization’s patient-care, research, and educational programs. With the arrival of spring, every young Cleopatra fancies dressing up in gossamer gowns and glittering gems to attend a spectacular event at the Temple of Dendur. u For more information, please contact Charlotte Reardon at 212.639.2103 or reardonc@mskcc.org.

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The Temple of Dendur honors goddess Isis, revered in mythology as the “Giver of Life” and “Goddess of Magic.” Imagine the high drama of your arrival, in a setting where young queens and high priestesses have timelessly trodden, draped in this stunning Gucci dress (3) with Gucci’s strappy sandal with chain detail (4). Don’t forget a pair of Marina B. Mitzuko earrings (2)—diamonds are, of course, a discovered treasure of mystical power over mere mortals. Chanel nail polish in “gold fingers” completes the look (1). Opposite page, from left: Tory Burch, Jamie Tisch, Caryn Zucker, and Muffie Potter Aston.

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THE YOUNG & THE GUEST LIST From the runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to the runway that was the American Museum of Natural History’s Museum Dance and the Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball, our columnist is on the scene.

BY ELIZABETH QUINN BROWN

Kristen Wiig and John Hamm at a Cinema Society after-party.

James Lowther, Andrew Bevan, and George Ryan at the after-party for a Friends With Kids screening.

Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Erin Andrews at Casino Night at Gotham Hall.

Sarah Olman, Jessica Janik, and Nick Hunt at a Cinema Society event on March 5.

Kaylee DeFer and Alan Cumming above the Boom Boom Room on March 5.

Chloe La Branche, Lacey Dorn, and Fallon Goodson

New York Rangers Derek Stepan, Ryan Mc-

screened FRONTERA at the Tribeca Grand Hotel.

Donagh, and Marc Staal on February 28.

MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK—a blur of butterflies,

caused by an Angel Sanchez ruffle, some Milly hardware, or a Tibi trouser. (Or Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen at the J. Mendel show.) On February 12, Moncler Grenoble presented its Fall 2012 collection at Wollman Rink where hundreds of skaters wearing red, white, and blue decorated the ice, performing a routine to “Bad Girls” by M.I.A. On the 13th, Betsey Johnson cartwheeled down the runway to a remix of music by the Beatles, Dusty Springfield, and the Rolling Stones. Fake fur? Only if it’s hotter than hot pink. My tween-year-old self? Dying.

On the 28th, the New York Rangers hosted Casino Night with the Garden of Dreams Foundation at Gotham Hall. I arrived, bumping into Tinsley Mortimer, who was wearing Haute Hippie—adorable! We discussed her book, Southern

Charm: A Novel, and how dapper the players looked in tuxedos. Bryan Boyle wore velvet and Stu Bickel—up from the Connecticut Whale—wore a bow tie. Founded in 2006, the Garden of Dreams Foundation works with the Rangers, as well as the Knicks and the Liberty, to “make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles” by creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, among other venues. After a round of sudden death with a Magnum bar, I left with Brandon Dubinsky’s autograph and a new boyfriend. Just kidding.

On March 2, I met Alex Chunn at the Bar Upstairs at Tiny’s for the kale salad with apples, carrots, cheddar cheese, and walnuts before a screening of FRONTERA at the Tribeca Grand Hotel. The film, directed and written by Lacey Dorn, explores the influence of a drug cartel on two women in APRIL 2012 139

Texas. There, I spotted Sebastian Bland, Dane Evans, Lily Haydock, Ben Fink Shapiro, and Nick Ventura. Afterward, Lacey hosted a Q. & A. with Fallon Goodson and Chloe La Branche for the audience of friends and family.

On the 5th, the Cinema Society hosted a screening of Friends With Kids with Grey Goose and PEOPLE StyleWatch. At the theater, I was joined by Mark Guiducci, James Kukstis, and Alex Polkinghorn. Following the film (“Love, Happiness, Kids—Pick Two”), I ventured to the Standard Grill before the after-party on the 18th floor of the Standard Hotel where Aziz Ansari, Megan Fox, Carson Griffith, Jonah Hill, Seth Meyers, Charlotte Ronson, and Maya Rudolph mixed over cocktails. Before bedtime, I found myself in the crow’s nest

blue looks from Moncler at Wollman Rink.

of the Boom Boom Room—an itty-bitty room on the 19th or 20th floor—where John Hamm, à la Don Draper, smoked cigarette after cigarette as Kristen Wiig bumbled over to Alan Cumming and Ryan Phillipe.

On the 8th, I attended the Museum Dance at the American Museum of Natural History in a shimmery, shiney Salvatore Ferragamo dress—all that glitters is, indeed, gold! The event raises funds for a variety of programs, enabling thousands of underserved children to visit the museum. The theme? “Bright Young Things,” in honor of the “Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence” exhibition. Partygoers, including Savannah Engel, Adam Klopp, Vanessa Noel, Michael Thom, and Caldy Whitridge, were aglow with excitement (and color)!

PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N

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Models cheered on Betsey Johnson with pom poms (inset); skaters wearing red, white, and

Cameron Silver, Rod Keenan, and Cator Sparks at the Moncler Grenoble presentation at Wollman Rink on February 12.

Betsey Johnson with models and more before her show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Margherita Missoni wearing Moncler to the brand’s presentation at Fashion Week.

Camilla Deterre and Waris Ahluwalia bundled up at Wollman Rink during Fashion Week.

Models wearing ’60s- and ’70s-inspired looks for the Betsey Johnson show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Nicole Trunfio accompanied Gilles Mendel to the

A model posing backstage before the Betsey Johnson

Lynn Yaeger and Kate Lanphear, together,

J. Mendel show at Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week.

show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on February 13.

in the first row for the J. Mendel show.

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Meredith Dunn and Amanda Hearst enjoying dinner at the Winter Ball on March 8.

if you haven’t visited “The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan, 1811-2011,” plane, train, or automobile this weekend to 103rd Street and Fifth Avenue!

The month, for me, concluded with Noora Raj at Super Linda, Tribeca’s “it” restaurant from Matt Abramcyk and Serge Becker. A little ceviche verde, a couple of churros, and I was happy as a twenty-something foodie can be. Next time, I’m venturing downstairs to El Jockey... u

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That evening, the Museum of the City of New York hosted its Winter Ball, sponsored by Giorgio Armani, at the Plaza Hotel. The event—chaired by Mark Gilbertson, Celerie Kemble, Nicole Mellon, and others—benefited the museum, which was founded in 1923 to provide exhibitions that connect the past, present, and future of New York. Everyone was gorgeous, especially Laura Bocly, Lydia Fenet, Alixe Laughlin, Sloan Overstrom, and Lauren Remington Platt. And,

AMNH/D. FINNIN; AMNH/R. MICKENS;

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Zani Gugelmann and Jennifer Creel were seated together at a black-tie event at the Plaza Hotel on March 8.

Jeffrey Sharpe, Georgina Schaeffer, Sam Dangremond, Micaela English, and Douglas Steinbrech—all dressed in black—at the Museum of the City of New York event.

Antony and Carlise Champalimaud at the Museum Dance on March 8.

Tatiana Smith and Remington Curtis at the Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball at the Plaza Hotel.

Blair Husain at the Museum of the CIty of New York’s Winter Ball at the Plaza Hotel.

Elizabeth Kurpis, a chairman for the American Museum of Natural History’s Museum Dance, shimmying in a colorful outfit at the step-and-repeat.

Andie Livengood and Carly Jolley during the dancing portion of the Museum Dance.

Michael and Dana Jones in the Roosevelt Rotunda at

Antony Todd, Olivia Chantecaille, and Ren

the American Museum of Natural History on March 8.

Grady at the Plaza Hotel on March 8.

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HEART OF THE CITY BETWEEN 1821 AND 1855, the population of New York City

quadrupled. To escape the hustle and bustle of city life, inhabitants were spending quiet time in cemeteries. A campaign was launched for the creation of a city park—first in Jones Wood, but eventually a 700-acre area known today as Central Park.

The design competition was won by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux for their “Greensward Plan,” notable for several reasons. First, its focus on nature: “Nature first, second, and third, architecture after a while,” Vaux said. Second, its implementation of innovative “separation circulation,” 144 QUEST

creating different systems for pedestrians, horseback riders, and carriages. Ultimately, Central Park represents a great democratic achievement—a place where people could, and can, mingle togther. Olmstead described it as “of great importance as the first real park made in this country—a democratic development of the highest significance.”—G.S. Above: Known as “the heart of the park,” Bethesda Fountain and Bethesda Terrace were among the first elements designed for Central Park, encouraging people to mingle; Children’s Day (inset).

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