WAG Magazine edition of October 2012

october 2012

Stephen Schwartz

casts his spell NYC

From The Algonquin to the Yanks

Walking tall on The High Line

Hip, hot neighborhood captivates

‘Burbs to boroughs

Luxury as easy as ABC The oyster is its world

october 2012

'burbs to Boroughs 12 The new YORK GROOVE 16 Now playing for New York ‌ 20 TREASURING THE CITY'S PAST 22 Soaring to new patriotic heights 24 Into the wild 26 Lucky Thirteen 30 A museum the city can call its own 32 A revamped Algonquin scintillates anew 34

S teven Reineke puts the pop in Pops

36 Easy to miss, hard to forget 39 The coolness of Dumbo 42 Net gain 43 Enchanting life 48 Taking the high road 55 The abcs of green luxury 58 Venus on the half shell 62 Painting the town in splashes of pastels 2

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october 2012

51 way

Features

A Hudson perch close to the city

60 wear

In praise of the LBD

64 wear

Latin loving

66 whims

Les Nouvelles

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Back to black

70 wine&dine The right pair

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A special day in an important month

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We wonder: What does New York City mean to you?

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With Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas

8 Waggers 10 Editor’s letter Cover photograph courtesy of Stephen Schwartz.

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9/21/12 5:46 PM

editor's letter Georgette Gouveia

Doing Business in China What is your China strategy?

On Thursday, October 11th, HSBC and the Westchester County Business Journal invite you to an exclusive panel discussion with the theme of Doing Business in China: Selling into the Chinese Market.

More than 90% of the world’s top 500 companies are doing business in China.

Exports from the United States to China grew 542% during the period from 2000 to 2011.

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Come hear from our panel of experts and learn how to launch your China strategy.

Andrea Ratay

Paul B. Edelberg Steve L. Henning Robbin Price MODERATOR

Andrea Ratay: Vice President, Senior Regional Trade Manager/ HSBC Trade and Supply Chain Division

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10

As I wrote last year at this time, autumn is New York’s best season and October its best month. So it gives us great joy to present an issue devoted to what is perhaps the ultimate cosmopolis and the people who make the daily commute from the ’burbs to the boroughs and back again.

Folks like composer-lyricist, Ridgefield resident and now WAG cover guy Stephen Schwartz, the man behind the Broadway hits “Wicked” and “Godspell,” the animated films “The Prince of Egypt” and (with Alan Menken) “Pocahontas” and the opera “Séance on a Wet Afternoon.” And Fred Kaufman, who lives in Irvington but works at Thirteen-WNET’s headquarters in Manhattan, where he’s the multiple Emmy-winning executive producer of “Nature,” PBS’ longest-running documentary series. Or Meriwether Fielding Lewis, a onetime Wall Streeter who with wife, Megan, created a Hudson River paradise, featured as our house of the month.

Others may have forsaken WAGcountry living for bright lights, big city (sorry, Jay McInerney). But Paulette Cole, co-founder, CEO and creative director of the divine ABC Home in Chelsea, and Bonnie Kirschstein, managing director of The Forbes Collection in Greenwich Village, are proud of their New Rochelle and Chappaqua roots, respectively.

They all make the byways that link the ’burbs and boroughs – be they I-95 or Metro-North’s Hudson Line – among the most synergistic, creative corridors in the world.

New York is all about its people – many of whom came here from somewhere else with an eye on opportunity. But it’s also

about the neighborhoods those people inhabit and work in, places like tiny, cobblestoned Dumbo, which nonetheless packs a wallop with its cafes, galleries, shops, architectural details and hipster ’tude.

And then there are the landmarks in those neighborhoods, the ones that go beyond the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, like The Algonquin Hotel, home of The Round Table (think Dorothy Parker, not King Arthur) and the Oyster Bar & Restaurant.

Both echo the city’s American Indian antecedents. Before it was ever New York City, it was already a center of trade where various indigenous tribes would gather, drawn by one of the world’s finest harbors.

And something else: Perhaps more than any other city, the place that would become New Amsterdam and then New York is about an idea, a state of mind (thanks, Billy Joel and Jay-Z). It’s a city that says if you’re broken, disillusioned, down to your last dime, well, it doesn’t matter. You can begin again, reimagine yourself. New York City was the place Richard Nixon turned to after Watergate exiled him from The White House. It’s the place Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis returned to when Camelot ended.

Then came a very bad day and the proud city that has been humbled so many times found itself humbled again and in need of the transcendence it bestows on others. Once again, New York dug deep within its granite soul to reinvent itself anew, this time at the World Trade Center.

That ability to recreate itself seemingly each day is the essence of New York, its gift to the world and the reason it remains the once and future city.

11

The new YORK GROOVE

By Georgette Gouveia

12

New York, N.Y. – Gotham, the Big Apple, the City That Never Sleeps.

And it never has, not even on its darkest day.

Other cities may be more exotic (Istanbul, New Orleans), more beautiful and romantic (Paris, San Francisco), more historically significant (Jerusalem, Rome, London). But few cities have New York’s gift for embracing the gritty and the glamorous, its terrifying, wondrous capacity for reinvention.

Biology, Freud said, is destiny. But geography and history have their influences, too. Much has been made of how the 17th-century Dutch virtues of industriousness and religious toleration have shaped the commercial cosmopolis that is New York today. Yet long before Henry Hudson sailed up the river that would ultimately bear his name in September of 1609, the place that would

become New York was already a melting pot. Here more than 1,000 years ago was Eden, a land of wild roses and blue plums where indigenous peoples speaking various languages would congregate. They were tall, straight-limbed and handsome, with none of the diseases the white men would bring. They fed on a nutritious diet of oysters fished from teeming riverbeds, along with the beans, corn and squash they planted, the so-called “Three Sisters.”

Going Dutch

It was the harbor that drew them, perhaps the finest in the world. It was the harbor that drew the Europeans, too. The Dutch were the ones who settled the area first and established what would become the New York credo: You are what you do. Africans, Germans, Jews, Native Americans, Roman Catholics, Swedes: Your color, sex or religion didn’t matter. If you could

put in a day’s labor, you could work for the Dutch West India Co. in New Amsterdam, as New York City was then known.

Let’s not get all misty-eyed. It wasn’t a campfire with everyone sitting around making s’mores and singing “Kumbaya” as they swayed shoulder-to-shoulder. The work of clearing, planting, building, fishing, trapping, defending and staying alive was exhausting and endless. Many Europeans were little more than indentured servants. The Africans who built much of New York were slaves, although the Dutch allowed for something called half-slavery whereby a freeman could work to buy his family out of slavery. The Dutch West India Co., headquartered in Amsterdam, wasn’t always an attentive, competent employer. The history of the time is filled with figures – law-andorder director-general Peter Stuyvesant, workers’ rights lawyer Adriaen van der 13

Significant dates in New York history Circa 1000 The future New York City is a beacon for native peoples.

• • 1609

Henry Hudson encounters one of the world’s great natural harbors.

1664 The British take over from the Dutch and rename New Amsterdam New York.

• • 1776

1790 In a deal to resolve war debt, Washington, D.C. becomes the new capital while New York City becomes the nation’s financial center.

•

1811 De Witt Clinton, at various times the city’s mayor and the state’s governor, proposes Manhattan’s lucent street grid.

•

1857 The stock market crashes and Central Park is begun.

•

1863 The Draft Riot engulfs the city as more than 15,000 men, mostly poor Irish immigrants, protest the burdens of the Civil War.

•

1886 The Statue of Liberty is unveiled.

•

1904 The extensive subway system is launched.

•

More than 100 British warships arrive as the Continental Army loses the battle for New York.

• 1809

Tarrytown’s Washington Irving writes his fabulist history of Gotham, coining that name. The mythmaking begins.

• 1825

The Erie Canal opens, connecting New York to the Midwest, America’s breadbasket.

• 1860

A relatively unknown Abraham Lincoln gives an anti-slavery speech at Cooper Union that will catapult him into the White House.

• 1883

The Brooklyn Bridge opens.

• 1898

The five boroughs are united to become Greater New York, the nation’s largest city.

• 1929

1931 The Empire State Building, a symbol of hope in the Great Depression, is completed.

•

1966 John V. Lindsay becomes mayor of “Fun City” in the midst of economic decline and social upheaval.

•

2000 New York City’s population hits 8 million, thanks to an immigration wave sparked by the ’90s’ economic boom.

•

2007 The Dow hits 14,000, its zenith to date.

•

The Chrysler Building is topped and the stock market crashes.

• 1952

The new United Nations’ headquarters makes New York the capital of the world.

• 1975

President Gerald Ford initially refuses to bail out New York City, prompting the Daily News’ “Drop Dead” headline.

• 2001

A terrorist attack destroys the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, killing close to 3,000 people.

• 2008 2011 The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center is dedicated on Sept. 11, the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

•

The markets tumble, ushering in a persistent recession.

Source: pbs.org/wnet/newyork/series/resources/timeline.html

14

“I am a rock...

Donck, for whom Yonkers was named – who would foreshadow the Giulianis and the Sharptons. Past is indeed prologue.

After using New Amsterdam to play political football with the British for 10 years, the Dutch gave up the trading post for good in 1674. The new masters were not big on toleration. They were more rules guys. But by then the image of the rechristened New York (after the Duke of York, later James II of England) was wellestablished – tough, rowdy, entrepreneurial, exciting.

And moneyed. New York’s godfathers would make sure of that. In 1790, New Yorker Alexander Hamilton and Virginian Thomas Jefferson – two sophisticated ladies’ men with little use for each other – brokered the deal over Revolutionary War debt that cemented the city’s destiny.

The nation’s capital would move to a spot on the Potomac near Virginia, while New York, once the capital, would be free to follow its path as the country’s financial center. At the dawn of the next century, the city would have its own bard – Tarrytown’s Washington Irving, the man who put the “Got” in Gotham and gave New York its first mythology. He foreshadowed the many media types adding to the lore and the lure.

Events took care of the rest. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 connected the port of New York to the Midwest – the breadbasket of the nascent United States – spurring the city’s growth and power. The

unification of the five boroughs in 1898 cemented Greater New York’s identity as America’s bellwether. Post-World War II, New York would not merely be the cultural cosmopolis (thank you, Abstract Expressionists) but, with the country’s rise to superpower status and the location of the United Nations here, the capital of the world.

Island nation

As the U.S.’ media and financial center, New York garnered another reputation – for coldness, arrogance and immorality.

Even the name “Manhattan” – which, let’s face it, is in some quarters synonymous with New York – comes from a Dutch corruption of the Lenape words for “island” and “hill,’’ suggesting an isolated, arduous clime.

A city of islands – one that rose from a bedrock of schist so strong that its creators would have to blast it with dynamite and reach into its bowels to build phallic towers rivaling starlight – became a metaphor for the proud, the lonely, the alienated.

“I am a rock,” native sons Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sang. “I am an island.”

It didn’t help that historically, New York City always seemed to be acting in its own self-interest, turning itself into Tory town during the American Revolution and talking about seceding during the Civil War. It didn’t help that its primary sports team always seemed to be playing in the World Series. (See related story on the Yankees.)

And it didn’t help that portrayals by Hollywood – part of Los Angeles, New York’s fascinated but teensy-bit-jealous younger sib – have veered from the picturesque (“Home Alone 2”) to the noirish (“The

...I am an island.”

— Simon & Garfunkel

The iconic Manhattan skyline.

When the going

gets tough, the tough reimagine themselves.

A workman on the framework of the Empire State Building, circa 1930.

French Connection”). This past summer alone, Hollywood gave us three blockbusters that each enhanced New York’s iconic skyline only to threaten or destroy it (“The Avengers,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.”)

New York’s toughness is, of course, something of a self-protective act. From its beginnings, the city has been burned, occupied (you go, England), bombed, looted, plotted against and once even famously told in effect to drop dead. (We forgive you, Gerald Ford.) Hey, when you’re a star player, sometimes you’ve got to take one for the team.

The resilient city

Never was that truer than on 9/11.

Although we can’t forget those lost at the Pentagon and the heroes of Shanksville, Pa., we remember New York City was the primary civilian target. Whenever people elsewhere ask me about the city – must be

that Noo Yawk accent – I always say that on a very bad day that exhibited the worst of humanity, New York displayed the best.

Its citizens acted with courage, with purpose and without self-pity.

But then, they have long since absorbed the lessons of the New Yorkers who came before: Do your job and look for opportunity in adversity. Indeed, two of the city’s glories – Central Park and the Empire State Building – came out of the crash of 1857 and the Great Depression respectively, just as One World Trade Center and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum have risen from the ashes of what was Ground Zero.

When the going gets tough, the tough reimagine themselves.

And that’s why the city will always survive and thrive, beckoning those looking for a chance or a fresh start. As the song says, “If I can make it there....”

Well, you know the rest.

But it’s really up to you, kiddo. n

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Now playing for New York …

The Yanks are Gotham’s forever team

By Georgette Gouveia All images courtesy Marty Appel

ith apologies to fans of the New York Knicks and Rangers and those of the ’ets (Mets, Jets and Brooklyn Nets), no team has defined and in turn been defined by New York the way the Yankees have.

“The larger point is that sports are part of American culture,” says Marty Appel, the Yanks’ onetime public relations director and author of the new “Pinstripe Empire” (Bloomsbury, 620 pages, $28). “No team in sports has dominated New York and the nation the way the Yankees have. There is the legacy of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio and Mantle. …

The stadium is part of it, even if it’s not the original. It’s still Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. …Today the Yankees are an international brand. People wear Yankee caps in Paris.”

And they do so because the crisp, classic navy and white with the interlocking “NY” – a Tiffany design – says something about the team, the city it calls home and thus, the wearer: It says that they’re the pride of their class.

Or as Appel puts it, “There’s an excellence that surrounds the Yankees.”

Edifice complex

Not everyone, however, loves a winner.

“People tend not to like success if you have it and I don’t,” says Appel, a Larchmont resident-turned-Man-

Due to a lucrative cable deal struck in the 1980s and their own YES Network, started by Steinbrenner in ’92 – the Yankees are the richest, most successful American sports franchise.

The Babe tips his cap.

Rogers Photo Archives.

hattanite, who did public relations for the Bronx Bombers from 1968 to 1977 before moving on to WPIX, where he was the Emmy Award-winning executive producer of their telecasts.

For proof, one need read no further than the delicious “Damn Yankees: Twenty-Four Major League Writers on the World’s Most Loved (and Hated) Team” (Ecco/Harper Collins, 290 pages, $27.99), edited by former Sports Illustrated executive editor Rob Fleder, a Hudson Valley resident.

From Nathaniel Rich’s essay, “The Queens Speech,” here’s a juicy sample of the kind of great writing real Yankee angst can produce: 16

“As a Mets fanatic, I am often asked why Mets fans hate the Yankees. I don’t think that ‘hate’ is the right word. Do Jainists hate Christians? Do Stoics hate the Epicurians? Do masochists hate sadists? There is not an animosity between Mets and Yankees fans so much as a profound philosophical abyss. (I’m speaking of real fans here not the dilettantes who will vanish the second Derek Jeter retires and/or the team has a losing season.)”

The reasoning behind this amusing envy-barelydisguised-as scorn is as follows: The Yankees are richer than Trump thanks to their location in the nation’s largest city – “They’re the money team in the money town,” New York historian and Chappaqua resident Kenneth T.

Jackson once told me – and a succession of robber baron owners ranging from Garrison beer king Col. Jacob T. Ruppert to transcendent Cleveland shipbuilder George M. Steinbrenner. Ergo, they can indulge a team of pampered, preening prima donnas, who, like their obnoxious, front-running fan base, will tolerate nothing less than the perfection of a World Series title.

OK, so there is some truth to that. With 27 World Series titles and a value of more than $2 billion – due to a lucrative cable deal struck in the 1980s and their own YES Network, started by Steinbrenner in ’92 – the Yankees are the richest, most successful American sports franchise. They not only can afford the Alex Rodriguezes, Ap-

Ron Guidry, a star of the comeback 1978 season, acknowledges fans along the Canyon of Heroes. Photograph

by Michael Grossbardt.

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The signing of Jim “Catfish” Hunter on Dec. 31, 1974 ushered in the era of big salaries. Rogers Photo Archives.

pel says, they need them to keep their off-off-Broadway hit running. And the fans (this writer included) can veer from smug satisfaction, particularly when the Bombers bash the archenemy Bosox – Bucky Dent, anyone? – to existential despair whenever a first-place lead dwindles.

“I don’t know what’s happening to the Yankees,” my uncle, John Roque, will say, phoning me in exasperation.

“They’ve lost two in a row.”

the second game. He made baseball a big business.”

From then on, the Yankees would serve as a mirror and a counterpoint to the city and the country. The freewheeling Bambino and the 1927 “Murderer’s Row,”

Dynasty

Yet if you look at the team’s history, as Appel has done in several books – he’s written 18 in all – you’ll see that the truth of the Yankees is more compelling and more poignant. Like all real New Yorkers, some historians say, the Yankees came from somewhere else, that somewhere being in this case Baltimore. That’s just an urban legend, Appel says.

“There’s nothing to connect the Baltimore team with the New York team.”

Instead, in 1903, a New York club replaced one from Baltimore in the American League. Hence the confusion. The new team was called the Americans or sometimes the Highlanders, owing to their playing in Hilltop Park, now the site of New York-Presbyterian Hospital on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The Highlanders played there until 1912 when they moved to the Polo Grounds, home of the far more successful Giants. Renamed the Yankees by the press – the term originally comes from the Dutch for “young man” – the team played there through 1922. A year later, it would have a home of its own across the Harlem River, Yankee Stadium.

Appel credits Ruppert – who was sole or co-owner of the team from 1915 to ’39 and whose Garrison estate is now Saint Basil Academy – with what became the Yankee juggernaut.

“All he did was buy Babe Ruth, build the stadium and build a dynasty that continues today. He was the first team owner to insist the players wore fresh uniforms for 18

city bounced back in the late ’70s with a “Bronx Zoo” of Billy, Reggie, Thurman, Catfish, Graig, Gator, Sparky and Goose that was sheer magic. Though the Yanks would make only one World Series appearance in the next decade (1981), they were the winningest team of the Reagan years, anchored by Don “Donnie Baseball” Mattingly.

In the fat-times, feel-good Clinton days, a more corporate yet captivating team emerged, led by the poised Derek Jeter.

The luckiest men

George Steinbrenner.

Rogers Photo Archives.

perhaps the greatest baseball team ever, typified the sky’sthe-limit ’20s. And while the Yankees wafted through the Great Depression, with their private Pullman cars and secure paychecks, the Babe’s shy, diligent teammate, Lou Gehrig, exemplified the decent working man.

As America won the war and the peace in the ’40s, Joe DiMaggio became the classy man-about-town, elevating the status of Italian-Americans. A decade later, his young teammate Mickey Mantle would be baseball’s first TV star, Appel says, as the Yanks’ World Series appearances became part of the fall lineup.

The Bombers’ dipping fortunes in the ’60s paralleled a nation’s turbulence and a city’s decline, but they and the

And then came 9/11, and the Yankees found themselves in an unusual position. They were greatly loved. Did it matter that they lost the World Series? Not really. The Yankees have always been about the dance between success and failure, love and hate. Like the city they represent, they offer a lesson in endurance. Their greatest stars haven’t been American aristocracy, but country boys (Mantle, Catfish Hunter) and immigrant sons (Gehrig, DiMaggio), oftentragic figures (Gehrig, Mantle, Hunter, Roger Maris, Billy Martin, Thurman Munson) but always men with an eye to the main chance. And having found it, they pass into Hemingway novels, Simon and Garfunkel songs, Broadway musicals, TV soaps and celluloid myths.

Whenever Gary Cooper, who played Gehrig in “Pride of the Yankees,” visited soldiers during World War II, they would always ask him to recite the closing speech, in which the dying Gehrig pronounces himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. The men would then weep.

And after a while, Cooper said, he would, too.

Love them or hate them, there will never be another team like the Yankees, for the world that created them is gone.

To their enemies, that should come as a relief.

To their admirers, well, we know we’re the luckiest fans on the face of the earth. n

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TREASURING THE CITY'S PAST

By Jennifer Bissell

The New-York Historical Society on Manhattan’s West Side is the city’s stately living room and glamorous attic, a place where historians and artifacts alike have come together to tell a story like no other.

The exhibits – including the elegant “Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America” and the moving, revelatory “Slavery in New York” – are stunning; the numbers, staggering – 2 million manuscripts, more than 1.6 million artworks, 500,000 photographs, 400,000 prints. And that’s just for starters.

Nearly 40,000 of these works can be seen in the open, glass-encased storage area that is The Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture, one of several dedicated departments that include the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library; the Education Center; The Gilder Lehrman Collection of more than 40,000 maps, manuscripts and photographs; and the

museum itself, the oldest in the city, founded in 1804.

In November 2011, the society’s landmark building, located in the shadow of the American Museum of Natural History, reopened after a three-year, $70 million facelift. But last month marked another homecoming – the highly anticipated return of the society’s significant collection of Hudson River School paintings after a two-year national tour.

“We’re very happy to have them back,” said Linda Ferber, the society’s vice president and author of “The Hudson River School: Nature and the American Vision” (2009). “They resonate with a broad audience.”

After national disasters such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, she said, patrons will visit the Hudson River School series and ask themselves, “Where are we now? Will we break the cycle and avoid extinction?”

The New-York Historical Society is at 170 Central Park West in Manhattan. For more information, call (212) 873-3400 or visit nyhistory.org.

Georgette Gouveia contributed to this story. n

(Clockwise from top) Light pours into Grand Central Terminal, 1930s. A mid-20th century view of Manhattan from the observation deck of the Empire State Building. A late 19thcentury view of skating in Central Park. Courtesy the NewYork Historical Society Collection.

20

21

Soaring to new patriotic heights

By Georgette Gouveia

P

erhaps nothing crystallizes New York’s capacity for reinvention and transcendence the way One World Trade Center does.

The skyscraper, which will soar to the symbolic height of 1,776 feet when it’s finished late in 2013, will take pride of place at the World Trade Center, in New York City and indeed in the Western Hemisphere as its tallest building. Already the tallest building in New York, One World Trade will be the third tallest skyscraper in the world behind Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca.

Nothing, of course, can replace the lives and buildings lost on 9/11 at the World Trade Center.

Framed by Vesey, Washington, Fulton and West streets, One World Trade is rising where Six World Trade once stood. The footprint of the Twin Towers is occupied by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, whose flowing waters and etched names echo a cascade of tears and the words of Virgil: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”

Created by architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill L.L.P., One World Trade is an office building that is designed to emphasize aesthetics, structural soundness, redundant safety features and state-of-the-art sustainability.

Architects like to have lots of redundancies in structures – those elements that reinforce other elements. One World Trade’s steel and concrete structure with column-free interior spans – at once strong and flexible – is apparently filled with redundancies.

According to the website of The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which owns and manages the World Trade Center, there will be an on-site police command center and such “life-safety systems” as elevators housed in a protected central building core and a stairway for

22

firefighters’ use.

One World Trade will be the “most environmentally sustainable project of its size in the world,” with a fuel cell generating 4.8 million watts per hour and cooling systems that use reclaimed rainwater.

All this is designed to serve tenants – Condé Nast being a biggie – and visitors who will occupy 3 million square feet of office space on 71 floors, walk through an airy public lobby with 50-foot ceilings, relax on an observation deck on the 100th

and 101st floors (1,241.8 feet above ground) and enjoy shopping, dining and ample parking.

Workers and the general public will access One World Trade via climate-controlled corridors that will connect them to The World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the new PATH terminal, 11 city transit subway lines, the new Fulton Street Transit Center, the World Financial Center and the ferry terminal.

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Grand Central-size hub will resemble the fluttering wings of a dove.

One World Trade’s historical significance and use of squares and triangles, which give the building the illusion of dynamic torquing, have already made it a favorite of video-game creators, TV producers and filmmakers. The skyscraper appeared this past summer in “Men in Black 3” and “Batman: The Dark Knight Rises,” and is a go-to shot when the New York Giants or Jets play at MetLife Stadium.

Come next year, One World Trade will be ready for its real close-up. n

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P

Into the wild Filmmaking is part of Fred Kaufman’s ‘nature’

People think of Fred Kaufman as a regular Dr. Doolittle.

But he’s quick to point out that “I’m not a naturalist. I didn’t study animal behavior.”

The confusion is not surprising. Kaufman has been with “Nature” – PBS’ most watched documentary film series – from its inception in 1982, with the last 21years spent as executive producer. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series, which airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on Thirteen-WNET, returns for its 30th anniversary season Oct. 10 with “Siberian Tiger Quest.”

So what keeps the Irvington resident walking on the wild side when he’s more of a sports fan (basketball, Boston Celtics in particular; New York Giants; Yankees)?

It’s his passion for the variety in visual storytelling.

“Every film is new. Every story is new,” he says, relaxing for a moment in one of the crisply modern spaces that make up WNET’s Manhattan headquarters. “You have the potential to film something that’s never been seen before.”

Albeit with “stars” who are not used to working from a script.

“We’re at the mercy of things we cannot control,” he says.

That’s why in “Nature,” the prep work – research, reliance on experts, development of a natural story arc – is so important.

“The people we work with say the first priority is not to stress the animals.”

If you as a filmmaker find yourself in harm’s way, he adds, well, then, you haven’t done your homework.

Fortunately for Kaufman and the filmmakers he features, many species lend themselves naturally to storytelling.

“Any animals that are social – elephants, chimps, dolphins – that have relationships in groups, that’s easy,” he says. “Independent animals, like leopards, are harder.”

Who, for example, could forget “Echo: An Elephant to Remember,” a five-hankie tale of the indomitable matriarch of an elephant family; Ely, the sickly son she nursed back to health; Erin, the mortally wounded daughter she was forced to abandon to save her calf, Email; and puckish Ebony, the baby daughter Echo rescued when she was kidnapped by a rival elephant clan.

Though Echo died in 2009 at age 65, the leadership, courage and strength she passed on enabled her family to survive the worst drought in the history of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.

“Elephants are very intelligent, interesting animals,” Kaufman says. “It’s not hard to create stories around them.”

Though he’s not often on location, Kaufman had an opportunity to experience elephantine intelligence first hand on a trip to Africa.

“Filming in Africa is unlike anywhere else in the world.

It’s very epic, very big. The animals are not hiding. They’re there in front of you.”

Kaufman was in a caravan of Range Rovers when his group spotted a line of elephants with a calf that was only days old. The caravan stopped; the cameras came out.

But as the elephants approached, the line became a phalanx. The elephants had closed ranks to protect the baby from the photographers’ gaze. Then they just as silently moved on.

“If you had your eyes closed, you wouldn’t have known 24

By Georgette Gouveia

Westchester screening

Courtesy Thirteen-WNET

they were there. They’re that quiet.”

That nature now seems to us to have its own soundtrack is thanks to “Nature” in general and Kaufman in particular. Alex Lasarenko’s pulsing, yearning opening theme – brilliantly punctuated by winds, brass, melismata and especially drums – is an audience favorite.

“When I started here 30 years ago, we used half the music,” Kaufman says. As “Nature” has shifted over the years from mere behavioral science programming to documentaries that marry biology to filmmaking, music has become more important, though as a judicious backdrop.

“Siberian Tiger Quest” originally had a Russian-flavored score that Kaufman says was too heavy for the story of a South Korean filmmaker, Sooyong Park, who lived for five years in the wild – often concealed in pits or fourfoot hides in trees – to capture the elusive creatures on the

“Nature” will partner with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to present the world premiere of “Wolves and Buffalo: Cold Warriors” Nov. 17 at The Picture House in Pelham. The film examines the ancient relationship between wolves and buffalo. For more on the event, call (914) 738-7337 or visit picturehouse.org. extreme eastern Russian frontier. The new score, reflecting Park’s solitary quest, is Asian-influenced and spare, Kaufman says, “the undertow of loneliness.”

Kaufman himself is from another part of the forest entirely – the Bronx’s Grand Concourse, where he grew up amid a melting pot of friends, eating peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches made with matzos as he watched the Yanks from the bleacher seats at the stadium. He studied journalism at SUNY Binghamton, then headed west but didn’t care for Los Angeles. When he got the “Nature” gig, he says he thought he’d stay for a bit, keeping an eye on CBS Sports.

“Awhile” has turned out to be quite a long time, thanks to the kaleidoscopic nature of his work.

“What I love about what I do is that every film is its own living story, requiring its own special canvas.” n

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Lucky Thirteen PBS flagship marks 50 years

By Georgette Gouveia

T

Neal Shapiro, president and CEO of WNET.

In the studio They’re the home of “Need to Know,” the Friday night public affairs program, and “MetroFocus,” a multiplatform look at the tristate. They’re where “Vine Talk,” with Katonah-born host Stanley Tucci, and the promos for “NYCArts” and “Reel 13” are produced. And they’re where WNET president and CEO Neal Shapiro and Rafael Pi Roman talk about the importance of public broadcasting during pledge week.

They’re the Tisch WNET Studios, a two-story, state-of-the-art facility that opened April 13, 2010, 16 blocks north of the public media company’s headquarters. Though the two studios are not especially large – they total about 1,000 square feet – they pack a wallop, 26

thanks in part to their versatility. Monitors, rear projection and Kino Flo lighting enable producers to create any atmosphere they want. The control room is actually back at headquarters. Black shades and heavy black drapes shut out the noise and the street-level snoops, like the one who stops to peer in at us.

The spaces can just as easily be converted to a reception area and a small lecture hall.

When not in use, the Tisch WNET Studios are part of Lincoln Center tours.

Says Gloria Deucher, WNET’s director of volunteer services, “Just to have this presence at Lincoln Center reminds people of who we are and what we do.”

o understand Neal Shapiro, president and CEO of WNET, you need to know that he really enjoys doing the promos for “Reel 13” – the Saturday night film series – in which bits of dialogue from the upcoming film are woven into his pitch.

“It’s my chance to act with Humphrey Bogart (his favorite), John Wayne, Ingrid Bergman,” he says. “It’s great.”

And his favorite film of all time? “Casablanca,” which Shapiro has seen more than 100 times.

“It’s a great story about love versus noble sacrifice. (Humphrey Bogart’s) giving up Ingrid Bergman is a pretty big sacrifice.”

But a necessary one, because “the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world,” Shapiro says, quoting Bogie.

It’s that spirit of sacrifice and public service that fuels Shapiro’s passion for WNET – the parent company of Thirteen, PBS’ flagship station, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Shapiro could’ve continued a brilliant career in commercial television. When he joined WNET in 2007, he was president of NBC News. Before NBC, he spent 13 years at ABC News. His résumé speaks for itself – 32 Emmys, 31 Edward R. Murrow Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Awards, positions on numerous academic and media company boards, plum assignments like the fall of the Berlin Wall.

But Shapiro – who favors shirtsleeves and striking suspenders in the sleek bullpen-style offices WNET occupies on Manhattan’s West Side – wants to touch people’s lives in a way he feels commercial television and cable don’t.

“It’s reaching out to people and partnering with other people,” he says. “It’s part of the reason Thirteen is a success and always has been.”

So the 50th anniversary is “congratulations to all the people at Thirteen and congratulations to all our viewers.”

Eye on New York

While Thirteen is saying “a million thanks” with “Pioneers of Thirteen” – a four-part salute to the station that has given us “American Masters,” “Great Performances,” “Live From Lincoln Center” and “Secrets of the Dead,” among many other memorable series – there’s also the community-minded programming that has been a Thirteen hallmark.

Shapiro – who lives with his wife, ABC

News correspondent Juju Chang, and three children in Manhattan – would like to see WNET produce more local and regional news coverage.

“I think we’re a part of the city’s life,” he says, adding that New York in turn is “a role model for what a city looks like. What happens in public education, transportation here has lessons for the whole country.”

This is especially true in the arts.

“We are the center of arts and culture,” Shapiro says. “We are on the cutting edge.”

That’s why WNET shares video and web arts content with other public TV stations

One Letter from a viewer who was once a poor immigrant in the Bronx stated: “‘Because of you at Thirteen, I had a frontrow seat at Lincoln Center, and now I’m a professional dancer.

That’s what public television can do.”

— Neal Shapiro

that can then tailor it to their needs through the Major Market Group Arts Initiative.

‘Pledge’ of allegiance

Programming takes money. While the public television audience has held and even grown a bit – pbs.org is among the most popular websites – government funding has declined. Public television receives $330 million annually from the federal government, which comes out to about $1.33 per person.

“Governor Romney has talked about eliminating all funding for public television,” Shapiro says. “That would be catastrophic.”

But only 12 to 18 percent of WNET’s $150 million operating budget comes from the federal government, with 10 percent from corporations and 2 to 3 percent from New York state. The rest is from individual donors, hence the dreaded pledge periods that pop up in March, August and December.

“Pledging goes up and down,” he says.

“When we’re in dire straits, we do better.”

While Shapiro is open to suggestions – including a joking one to subtract a minute of pledge for every dollar pledged – finding the right format and formula remains a challenge.

“Part of it is figuring out what the audience responds to,” he says.

Recent viewer favorites have included doo-wop specials and concerts by Judy Collins and James Taylor.

“Once we get something good, we run it a lot to make sure people see it.”

In part because Shapiro knows that for some, maybe even many out there, Thirteen may be their only opportunity to see a Collins or a Taylor. And also because the problems of a little public TV station don’t amount to a hill of beans when there are lives to be transformed.

As part of its 50th anniversary, Thirteen has been sharing letters and emails from viewers. One that particularly moved Shapiro was from a viewer who had been a poor immigrant in the Bronx. “‘Because of you at Thirteen, I had a front-row seat at Lincoln Center, and now I’m a professional dancer,’” Shapiro quotes, adding, “That’s what public television can do.” n

Gloria Deucher, director of volunteer services.

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the 4-1-1 on Thirteen….

Ongoing series

• Oct. 11, 8:30 p.m. “Treasures of New York: Roosevelt House” Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had many famous homes – Hyde Park, Campobello, Warm Springs and The White House – but few people know the story of the New York City home where the Roosevelts spent 24 years. Today, the house is owned by Hunter College. After extensive renovation, Roosevelt House was reopened in the spring of 2010 as the home of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute.

• Thursdays, 8 p.m. “NYC-ARTS” Thirteen’s popular arts and culture showcase, “SundayArts,” has gotten a new name, time slot and robust website as it provides the tristate area with an all-access pass to the area’s unparalleled cultural offerings, from music and dance concerts to Broadway’s best, museum exhibits and more.

New York Emmy winners Philippe de Montebello and Paula Zahn host. With news correspondent Christina Ha.

• Oct. 24, 8 p.m. “Magic of the Snowy Owl” This film is an intimate look at the snowy owl, a bird that stands out for its magical beauty, intelligence and dedication to family. Discover how these striking pure white owls are eagles, falcons and owls rolled into one. Surviving in one of the loneliest and most inhospitable places – the Alaskan tundra – they have gained a magic above all other birds.

• Fridays, 8:30 p.m. “Need to Know” “Need to Know: Campaign 2012” is the weekly half-hour current affairs series from WNET and PBS that covers the issues being considered by candidates and voters, all from Main Street’s point of view. The program also profiles upcoming political leaders and will report regularly from the road.

• Nov. 7, 8 p.m. “Animal Odd Couples” A tiger cub with no mother in sight. A golden retriever puppy. An abandoned cheetah cub.

Without nurturing, these infants face certain death. Enter stories of the most unlikely crossspecies relationships imaginable – a chimp bottlefeeding a tiger cub, a juvenile gibbon that decides to live with a family of capuchins and a goat guiding a blind horse.

• Nov. 14, 8 p.m. “An Original DUCKumentary” Working with “Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air” producer Ann Prum, “Nature” hopes to recreate the success of “Hummingbirds” by featuring another popular, beautiful and fascinating bird – the duck. The story follows a wood duck family and uncovers how a male and female create a bond, migrate together across thousands of miles, nurture and protect a brood of chicks and come full circle as they head to their wintering grounds.

• Nov. 13, 8 p.m. “Woody Guthrie: Ain’t Got No Home” An encore presentation in honor of the centennial of Guthrie’s birth and in conjunction with the premiere of Ken Burns’s new two-part documentary “The Dust Bowl” (Nov. 18 and 18, 8 p.m.) His is a complex story filled with frenetic creative energy and a treasure trove of cultural history, as well as personal imperfections and profound family tragedy.

• Nov. 20, 8 p.m. “Inventing David Geffen” Notoriously press and camera-shy, David Geffen reveals himself for the first time in this unflinching portrait of a complex and compelling man. His far-reaching influence – as agent and manager, record industry mogul, Hollywood and Broadway producer and billionaire philanthropist – helped shape American popular culture for the past four decades. He and everyone from Yoko

28

• Saturdays, 8 a.m. “Consuelo Mack WealthTrack” Since July 2005, the program has provided understandable advice about building and protecting wealth over the long haul from the best minds in the business world. The weekly financial series remains the only program on television devoted to long-term diversified investing.

• Saturdays, 10 a.m. “New York Business Report with Michael Stoler” This weekly series profiles the movers and shakers affecting Big Apple business trends in both the public and private sectors.

Ono and Cher, Frank Rich and Maureen Dowd, Steven Spielberg and Barry Diller, David Crosby and Neil Young, Elton John and Rahm Emanuel illuminate his rich and riveting story.

• Dec. 28, 9 p.m. “Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance” Discover the story of the first quintessentially American dance company. The Joffrey Ballet founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino pioneered a new dance philosophy by daringly combining modern and traditional techniques, art with social statement and integrating pop and rock music scores. Tracing the struggles and triumphs of the company from 1956 to the present, the film features interviews with former and current Joffrey dancers and rare archival performance footage. Mandy Patinkin narrates.

• December – “Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby” Rod Stewart’s first solo holiday special, produced

by David Foster, features 13 classic songs and includes duets with Michael Bublé, Cee Lo Green, Mary J. Blige and even the late Ella Fitzgerald. (Check local listings.)

• Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. “Religion & Ethics Newsweekly” Since its debut in 1997, the program has set itself apart from the mainstream media by providing distinctive news coverage and analysis of national and international events in the ever-changing religious world.

Hosted by veteran journalist Bob Abernathy.

• Saturdays, 9 p.m. – “Reel 13” Every Saturday night, viewers can catch a classic hosted by film historian Neal Gabler; followed by an indie, hosted by Richard Peña, program director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The evening concludes with a short selected from among three each week by visitors to Reel13.org.

• “MetroFocus” Monthly news magazine-style series featuring interviews, in-depth reporting and solutions-oriented stories from across the New York metropolitan region. Major areas of coverage include sustainability, education, science and technology, the environment, transportation, poverty and underserved communities. (Check local listings.)

A museum

the city

can call its own

By Mary Shustack Photographs by Mary Shustack and courtesy Museum of the City of New York The Museum of the City of New York, all the way up Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, is definitely a destination.

But make the trek – we’re talking figuratively, as it’s actually quite accessible – and be handsomely rewarded.

That’s because this impressive institution is devoted to all things related to New York City.

Exhibitions have put the spotlight on everything from historic happenings to fashion, economics to interior design, cultural trends to art, transportation to entertainment.

A leisurely visit on a recent morning yielded not only a glimpse of a 17thcentury silver tankard and an elaborately beautiful 1880s stained-glass panel, but also an authentic stretch of 1929 ticker tape, a 1991 Nan Goldin photograph and a 2012 painting of a typically frenzied moment in Grand Central Terminal.

The Museum of the City of New York offers the proverbial something for everyone, in surroundings that embody grand New York.

The museum’s own history

The museum itself has a Manhattan home many would envy, a generously proportioned Colonial Revival building designed by Joseph H. Freedlander and completed in 1932.

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The Museum of the City of New York is on Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street.

A nonprofit founded in 1923, the museum was first housed in Gracie Mansion.

Celebrating and interpreting the city for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, the museum remains the city’s official museum, the only one devoted to exploring all five boroughs.

Today, the museum’s collections include more than 300,000 photographs, along with costumes, furniture, decorative arts, prints, paintings, theater memorabilia, toys, manuscripts and other historical artifacts.

It’s all displayed in a setting that captivates you from the moment you enter off Fifth Avenue.

From the stately Nathalie Pierrepont Comfort staircase to the marble floors, from the large second-floor windows that look out over Fifth Avenue with Central Park

beyond to the arches that tie the galleries together, there is an impressive sense of history.

The collections

Start your visit with “Timescapes,” shown every half-hour throughout the day for a fast-paced overview. This multimedia “portrait of New York” – narrated

by Westchester’s own Stanley Tucci – takes you on a tour of the city over the centuries. (They pack in an amazing amount in an absorbing way, no small feat.)

Continue your visit at your own pace.

Grab a floor plan and simply wander to whatever sounds interesting.

“From Farm To City: Staten Island, 1661-2012,” which recently opened, highlights changing land use in this borough; “Capital of Capital: New York’s Banks and the Creation of a Global

Economy,” through Oct. 21, traces New York’s banking sector; and “Reimagining the Waterfront: Manhattan’s East River Esplanade,” through Oct. 28, looks at proposals for revitalization.

A pair of exhibits offers two must-sees – “City Scenes: Highlights of New York Street Photography” and “London Street Photography,” both through Dec. 2.

These are detailed looks at each metropolis, as seen through the eyes of some of the most noted photographers.

Those with an interest in style, home design or simply a great “New York story” will want to visit “The World of D.D. and Leslie Tillett,” the first retrospective of the work of New York textile designers whose names are not really known outside the field.

Donald Albrecht – a curator of the ex-

hibition, which opens Oct. 17 – says sharing the Tilletts’ story is a perfect example of how the Museum of the City of New York fills an important role.

“This fit into our mission,” he says. “It’s also one of those stories about people who are largely unknown. …They’re predominantly textile designers, but they also did fashion.”

Their story, which sees them designing for everyone from New York-based interior designers such as Albert Hadley to the Kennedy White House, he says, is inspiring. And it also taps into today’s focus on smaller companies and artisan efforts.

“They were very much very self-made people,” he says of the Tilletts.

All exhibits, he says, relate to New York and often tell stories that never get the chance to be explored.

“What we do is we put it in a city context,” he says. And in doing that, “We’re also telling something about the city.”

Visitors can always count on some favorite exhibitions to be continuing.

Ongoing shows include “Activist New York,” a look at social activism through 14 case studies, plus “On the Move,” transportation toys from the permanent collection, and the perennial delight, the Stettheimer Doll House, an elaborate home that holds court on the museum’s ground floor.

Capping a visit

Once you’ve wandered the galleries – something that could be completed in a whirlwind or ideally, savored over a couple of hours – the museum’s amenities beckon.

Head down to the ground floor and stop in the casual café for everything from soups to prepared salads and sandwiches to baked goods and espresso beverages.

A pair of gift shops flanks the Fifth Avenue entrance. Each carry a selection of goods that range from books to puzzles, jewelry to T-shirts, prints to calendars – and plenty more.

And in nice weather, settle into a courtyard table outside to look over your brochure, which details upcoming special events. Extend the neighborhood visit with a stop at El Museo del Barrio just another block north or across from there, Central Park’s Conservatory Garden.

These six acres of formal gardens feature an impressive gate. A sign tells how it once guarded the entry to the Cornelius Vanderbilt mansion nearly 50 blocks

south.

It’s yet another New York story, just the kind so artfully celebrated at the Museum of the City of New York.

The Museum of the City of New York is at 1220 Fifth Ave. For more details, call (212) 534-1672 or visit mcny.org. n Clockwise from top left: Peter Hujar’s “DOA Halloween, 1979,” © The Peter Hujar Archive LLC, is featured in “City Scenes: Highlights of New York Street Photography.” Courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery, New York City.

Berenice Abbott’s “Tempo of the City #1, 1938,” is featured in “City Scenes: Highlights of New York Street Photography.” Courtesy Museum of the City of New York. “Byron Company, Bathing, Midland Beach, 1899,” part of The Byron Collection, is featured in the exhibition “From Farm To City: Staten Island 1661-2012.” Museum of the City of New York. Designers Leslie and D.D. Tillett, pictured circa 1947, are the subjects of “The World of D.D. and Leslie Tillett.” Courtesy Tillett and Rauscher Inc.

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A view of The Round Table painting by Natalie Ascencios.

A revamped Algonquin scintillates anew

By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of The Algonquin Hotel

Why don’t you get out of that wet coat and into a dry martini?”

Such was the suggestion Robert Benchley gave Ginger Rogers in the 1942 film “The Major and the Minor.” Today, the quip is printed on cocktail napkins lining the elegant oak bar in the Blue Bar at New York’s The Algonquin Hotel, a historic hub of witty words and liquid lunches perhaps best exemplified

by The Round Table that featured Benchley, writer Dorothy Parker, sportswriter Heywood Broun and critic Alexander Woollcott, among a host of memorable wags.

The 181-room hotel, now part of the Autograph Collection, was closed for five months this year for renovations and the preservation of its historic quirks, too.

That included replacing antique bathtubs with modern showers, swapping the old, cartoon-style black-and-white wallpaper with more conventional beige textures, adding a fitness center, redoing the plumbing, installing new carpeting, adding 36-inch-screen TVs, creating a presi32

dential suite called The John Barrymore and ultimately renovating the first-floor bar area after the hotel’s iconic Oak Room closed. Alex Aubry, The Algonquin’s executive chef and food and beverage director, calls the $20-million project “a muchneeded facelift.”

“We had to be very careful, because in a landmark you cannot touch the structure of the building or the façade,” he says, “so all of this woodwork is still the same original oak from 1902. …The ceiling, the walls, the hand-painted Tiffany & Co. sconces from 1902 are all original.”

The hotel pays tribute to its literary legacy with ongoing roundtable discussions that transcend the advent of the Internet.

This gathering of the minds takes place every month as a group of fashion, art and literary insiders gets together for industry insight, laughs, connections and cocktails under the leadership of visual merchandising guru Tom Beebe. “(He) has been an incredible person for us and gives us incredible PR by word-ofmouth,” Aubry says.

Hoping to channel the original Algonquin Round Table, or “The Vicious Circle” as it was called, writers still flock to the hotel to absorb Dorothy Parker’s blithe spirit, though Aubry exclaims, “There are no ghosts.” Businessmen dine there on burgers and Burgundy. Jazz musicians toast the greats who came before. And New Yorkers of age stop in for a stiffener in a setting redolent of Old New York.

“This is the oldest working hotel in New York City,” Aubry says. “It opened Nov. 22, 1902. Not even The Plaza or The Waldorf existed yet. And it has such character, because the guy who owned this place, Frank Case, was an author and a writer. …

He was pretty much into his first profession, being a writer, so he’d get together there with friends like John Barrymore and Ernest Hemingway and have cocktails.”

Case – who bought the hotel in 1907, changing its name from The Puritan (too straitlaced) to that of an indigenous group – wanted to make the place unique at a time when lobbies were filled with pols and mobsters. Cue the stars, the single la-

dies, the literati.

The owner comped pals like Barrymore and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. to ensure their continued company, made single traveling women feel welcomed – unusual at that time – and provided a haven for iconoclastic journalist H.L. Mencken, who called “The Gonk” “the most comfortable hotel in America;” muckraker Sinclair Lewis, who offered to buy it; and William Faulkner, who drafted his 1950 Nobel Prize acceptance speech there.

But perhaps the most celebrated of the literati were the members of The Round Table, who first gathered in June of 1919 to welcome home war correspondent-turnedNew York Times’ drama critic Alexander Woollcott. The lunches – brimming with ideas, gossip and caustic humor, all well lubricated – lasted for 10 years.

“They would spend long afternoons here from noon till 3, 4, 5, sometimes 6 o’clock. The Round Table was actually behind this wall in what was the Chinese Room. It was one whole room and there was no wall here. We just put this in when

we did the renovations,” Aubry says.

Round Table members included Harold Ross, who founded The New Yorker (a copy of which is complimentary with your visit); comic-actor Harpo Marx; playwrights George S. Kaufman and Robert E. Sherwood; and novelist Edna Ferber.

Another member was The Times’ Al Hirschfeld – “and we have five original Hirschfeld plates in the Blue Bar,” Aubry says with pride. “The guy lived until he was 99 years old and he still came here….

They were all like The Little Rascals,” Aubry adds with a laugh.

The hotel also attracted actress Helen Hayes and writers Gertrude Stein, Simone de Beauvoir and Maya Angelou. But its longest guest, though, is Matilda, the in-house Birman cat who roams the hotel. In the ’30s, Case adopted a stray cat, which his pal John Barrymore started calling “Hamlet.” That lucky Hamlet lived the glam life – brushing up against the legs of stars and drinking milk out of Champagne flutes.

After Case passed away in 1945, the hotel’s various owners continued the tradition of keeping a resident cat. Males are forever named Hamlet; females, Matilda.

The Algonquin, it seems, is still the cat’s meow.

The Algonquin Hotel is at 59 W. 44th St., Manhattan. For reservations, visit algonquinhotel.com. n

The lobby.

The hotel pays tribute to its literary legacy with ongoing roundtable discussions that transcend the advent of the Internet. This gathering of the minds takes place every month as a group of fashion, art and literary insiders gets together for industry insight, laughs, connections and cocktails under the leadership of visual merchandising guru Tom Beebe.

Inside the Blue Bar.

33

Steven Reineke puts the pop in Pops

By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of The New York Pops

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or Steven Reineke, conducting The New York Pops at its Carnegie Hall home is like “when I make a playlist on my iPod and get to play it for 3,000 people. I get to be a DJ essentially.”

The Pops’ music director is preparing for “Some Enchanting Evening: The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein,” the star-studded Oct. 12 season opener.

The night will feature the orchestra with such guest artists as Aaron Lazar of Broadway’s “Mamma Mia!” and Kelli O’Hara and Paulo Szot, who co-starred in the acclaimed Lincoln Center production of “South Pacific.”

“This is the 30th season of The New York Pops and it’ll be my fourth season with them so I’ve got three years down and we’ve already extended my contract, which will go through 2016,” Reineke says, sitting in the living room of the sleek Hell’s Kitchen corner apartment he’s called home for the past three years. He shares the luxe pad with his boyfriend, Eric, who works in the fashion industry. When Eric walks through the door, Reineke’s face glows.

In the sun-dappled room, floor-to-ceiling windows take up two full walls, and the view below, impeded only by a black Yamaha piano, reveals the heart of the bustling Theater District, where many of Reineke’s high-profile friends work. Some of those stars also stop by this avid cook’s apartment for his schnitzel – that is, when he’s not busy traveling and juggling several positions.

“My full-time jobs are music director of The New York Pops. I’ll be starting my second season as the principal pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in D.C. at the Kennedy Center and then also

34

in October I begin full time in my first season as the newly appointed principal pops conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. They created this position for me and it’s really neat because I’ve been guestconducting the Toronto Symphony for 14 years. It’s like we’ve been dating a long time and just got married,” he says with a laugh, adding that he just finished two contracts with orchestras in California.

“The travel just got to be so much and now everything is on the same time zone and within a three-hour commute to each place. It’s a lot still, because these are three really big programs,” he says, noting that, hands down, fundraising in this economic

climate for the nonprofit New York Pops is “easily the greatest challenge of my job.”

Courting the edge

Nevertheless, Reineke relishes his job and strives to be an entertaining host.

“Carnegie Hall is wonderful, because they’ve really trusted us and they’ve not had to put a round peg in a square hole. …We get to plan the overall season and who the guest artists are going to be and then when it comes down to each concert, I pick every selection.

“I like to stay as current as we can. Certain venues allow that to happen better, like when we go play SummerStage in

Central Park. At Carnegie Hall, we keep it really classy, but we do some interesting things and use some young talent, which is great and helps a lot….

“Last year we did a ‘Mad Men’-inspired concert with (actor-singer) Cheyenne Jackson. It was a very stylish evening that appealed across a larger demographic and age group. We have a lot of patrons who are older who have been coming for a long time and they love to hear the orchestra.

They love the music we play. They also have money and they have a schedule and can subscribe for a whole season and know that they can make those six dates.

Getting younger people to do that is a dif-

ferent ballgame. … They come, but they don’t plan it so far out,” Reineke says with understanding.

A longtime classical and popular music lover, Reineke studied trumpet and musical composition.

“My music is very cinematic and has a big scope to it.” It’s contemporary, he says, but laughingly interjects, “I can’t stand that atonal stuff.”

His role as a conductor and music director was pleasantly unexpected.

“I didn’t plan on being a conductor. It just happened.”

Practice, practice …

It has, however, been his ticket to Carnegie Hall. The venue, he says, “is so special to perform in. …Carnegie Hall has been drawing me to it ever since I was a kid.

“I grew up in Ohio in a little town called Tipp City – T-I-P-P, after Tippecanoe, and it’s about 20 miles north of Dayton, Ohio. That was my old stomping ground. …We had a modest upbringing and it was a great place to live. I didn’t grow up on a farm. It wasn’t quite that rural, but it was very much like Mayberry,” he says, referring to the cozy fictional setting of “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Reineke is the youngest of three boys.

His mother was a secretary at his elementary school and his father was a banker.

“But he was a guitar player on the side, just for fun, acoustic. He was a folk guy.

And from the time I can first remember until the time I was maybe 12 or 13, just about every night he would sit on the edge of my bed with his guitar and sing me to sleep. He would play Peter, Paul and Mary and John Denver,” he says, smiling.

Reineke jokes that he was “never a shy kid” and began playing the trumpet in the Dayton Youth Symphony.

“I was a senior in high school, 17 years old, and the Dayton Youth Symphony was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in a youth music festival,” he says, winking to let you know that this was the catalyst for his career.

“It was my first-ever time in New York City and my first time in Carnegie Hall.

I remember going in there, sitting on the stage, and it was just electric. Literally, you can feel something in the air that’s palpable and that was amazing for a young kid and I’ll never forget it.

“And then as my career progressed, I started to write music as a composer and an arranger. …I write music that is melodies and that I want people to enjoy listening to. I actually studied film music in Los Angeles for a couple of years and I wanted to be a film composer like the masterful John Williams.

“But then I got hired at the Cincinnati Pops by that guy,” Reineke says, pointing to a framed photo atop his piano, “Erich Kunzel, the founder and conductor of the Cincinnati Pops. …He was my great teacher and he was a legend in the pops world,” Reineke adds before revealing that Kunzel passed away the day he moved to New York.

“I became (Kunzel’s) arranger and composer for about 15 years. And we would come and bring the Cincinnati Orchestra here and play at Carnegie Hall every two years. So I got to then sit in the audience and hear my original compositions played there and I was in my 20s then.”

“So I played on the stage at Carnegie as a kid, then I hear my own music played there and I thought, gosh, the next thing I need to do – I don’t know how it’ll ever happen – but maybe I can conduct a concert here sometime.”

“And it was almost 20 years to the day in 2008 when I made my debut with The New York Pops as a conductor. The place just kept drawing me back and now it’s my permanent home. It’s so crazy and I love it. I mean, right now they have scaffolding up and they have all the photos of the new season, and just the other day, I was walking by it and there’s my big ugly mug up there on Seventh Avenue.

“And as a kid from small town Ohio, I still get goose bumps and think, What?

That’s really weird. What’s my face doing up at Carnegie Hall?” He chuckles, adding, “It’s quite humbling.”

For more information, visit newyorkpops.org and carnegiehall.org. n

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Easy to miss, hard to forget The Forbes Galleries in the Village

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By Mary Shustack Photographs by Sinéad Deane and courtesy The Forbes Collection

For more than 25 years, The Forbes Collection has been sharing the treasure trove of art, collectibles and memorabilia that is the legacy of the late Malcolm Forbes – for free – at The Forbes Galleries in Greenwich Village.

Wait… you thought the charming little gallery closed when the stellar collection of Fabergé eggs was sold off in the 1990s? Or maybe after the more recent divesting of the impressive collection of toy soldiers and boats?

Wrong, says Bonnie Kirschstein, the collection’s managing director, who has been with the family-owned Forbes company since 1989.

“We’ve been buying and selling the whole time I was here,” says Kirschstein, who was raised in Chappaqua.

She is more than used to the misconceptions and always ready to reassure that the collection remains vibrant – and something to be shared.

“Yes, there’s still an awful lot, and yes, we have a very active exhibition schedule.”

The sale of the toy collection, in 2010, though did bring change, she says.

“That actually enabled us to kind of rethink how we were going to do the galleries,” Kirschstein says.

That meant a period of renovation, a grand reopening and now, expanded space that lends itself to even bigger exhibitions.

A worthy visit

The galleries fill the lobby level of the Forbes Media headquarters on Fifth Avenue at 12th Street.

The recent addition of flags out front signal what for a long time was perhaps overlooked.

First is the impressive building, originally built for the MacMillan Publishing Co. in 1925 by Carrère and Hastings (of New York Public Library and Frick Collection fame).

Forbes bought what would become its flagship in the early 1960s, moving in by 1967 after extensive renovations. Artwork was a Forbes feature from the start.

Publisher-philanthropist Forbes started a corporate art collection in the 1960s with acquisitions based on family deci36

sions not by consultant or committee. Interests ranged from 19th-century French military pictures to toys to contemporary Realist work.

The Forbes Galleries opened its doors in 1985, and today, the galleries continue to welcome visitors from around the world, those intrigued by Forbes’ outsize personality and the glimpse into the family’s enduring tradition of collecting.

On view

Today, an exhibition on the American Realist painter, “Walter Stuempfig: 19141970,” fills the BC Forbes Galleries 1, 2 & 3, the largest exhibition spaces, named after the company founder, Malcolm’s father. It continues through Nov. 24.

A memorabilia-filled look at “The Ocean Liner United States: The Past & Future of America’s Flagship” continues through Oct. 20 in the Carrère Gallery.

New to the scene is the Forbes 60 Fifth Club Room, designed by Ally Coulter, Ralph Lauren’s personal designer. The space, used to host private Forbes events for clients and advertisers, is a step into a world of luxury and style. It’s a blend of furniture and decorative objects from the vast Forbes collections, from chandeliers to rugs, a ship model to a glass-topped antler table – all integrated with Ralph Lauren pieces. Artwork ranges from paintings by Alex Katz and Salvador Dalí to a bronze by Mahonri Young, a sculptor connected to Weir Farm in Wilton.

It all reflects the way Forbes collected, Kirschstein says.

“Malcolm went to galleries,” Kirschstein says. “He went to openings. He looked for art.”

And he filled properties in France, Morocco, Colorado and New Jersey with his finds – but it wasn’t just for him.

“He wanted to share his collection. He was not the type of person to let the things sit in a storeroom… He had a great outlook on life.”

Business and pleasure

The galleries often showcase traveling exhibitions, others drawn from its own collections and sometimes, more comBonnie Kirschstein, who grew up in Chappaqua, is the managing director of The Forbes Collection.

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mercially oriented efforts.

“The galleries have always and continue to be an important arm for business in the company,” Kirschstein says.

A recent vodka exhibit, for example, was something that might seem incongruous – in theory.

“Obviously I want to be accommodating. It’s important. It’s business,” she says.

But she is aware of the aesthetic as well and has found a way to integrate all elements.

“You don’t want to be walking through a painting show and walk through the Hastings Gallery and you’ve got vodka bottles.”

But these five-figure collectible bottles were displayed in artful vignettes and did bring something to the surroundings.

“They were beautiful. They weren’t art, but they were cool.”

Life at Forbes

The Hastings Gallery.

The Forbes 60 Fifth Club Room.

Kirschstein got her job via a blind ad – “corporate art collection looking for a registrar” – in The New York Times.

Then a graduate student at New York University Institute of Fine Arts (after graduating from Horace Greeley High School and what was then SUNY Purchase), Kirschstein was planning to go on for her doctorate and teach.

Instead, she landed the job with Forbes and has steadily advanced through the years.

“I’ve had about eight titles here,” she says.

She did join at a time when the collecting was in high gear.

“Malcolm was alive and it was raining money.” She would go to auctions to help with the growing collection.

But the Forbes philosophy has kept the collection growing and changing.

“You build a collection, and you’re really a custodian for the time you’re here on Earth,” she says was his attitude.

And that philosophy, she notes, has allowed Forbes’ children to let go of some things to concentrate on other endeavors.

She was “on the front line” to help build the collection of American paintings.

Today, that is a Forbes trademark, now exhibited in expansive galleries that are welcoming… if not exactly tall.

“The height is definitely a problem,” Kirschstein says.

At just about six and a half feet, she adds, joking, “no NBA players here.”

Moving ahead

The future, Kirschstein says, is unclear. The company sold its building to New York University and is now leasing the space back, though it will remain there for at least two more years, she says.

After that, relocation within Manhattan is expected.

So for now, visit the collection to savor the great tradition, one that continues next spring with “Out of This World!”

The galleries, noted for a particularly strong history of showcasing stunning jewelry, will spotlight Space Age jewelry. Elyse Zorn Karlin, a Port Chester woman who publishes Adornment, the Magazine of Jewelry & Related Arts, will curate the spring show.

For Kirschstein, it’s another thing to look forward to.

“I still learn so much, even after 23 years. That’s what’s so great about it.”

And that’s why, as Kirschstein concludes with a laugh, the galleries deserve a place in New York’s cultural conversation.

“We consider ourselves an important venue in the Village….

We like to say we’re the very bottom of Museum Mile.”

The Carrère Gallery.

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The Forbes Galleries are at 62 Fifth Ave., at 12th Street. For more details, call (212) 206-5548 or visit forbesgalleries.com. n

The coolness of Dumbo

By Zoë Zellers Photographs by Sinèad Deane

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ne of the most expensive neighborhoods in New York City, Brooklyn’s Dumbo is a synergistic place where artists, actors, designers, musicians and filmmakers can showcase their works in understated galleries such as SmackMellon and performance spaces like St. Ann’s Warehouse. Bars and cafés coexist peacefully with luxurious new condos housing celebrities, families and young executives in an intimate space between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges that extends east into Vinegar Hill.

“Dumbo is thriving and it’s about to be booming,” says Aaron Kalter, an actor-filmmaker. “This waterfront is still one of New York’s most iconic places.”

“Someone once said to me that Dumbo is where yuppies go to have kids,” Justine Block says as she walks her dog, Chester, toward the East River. She lives in a high-rise in Dumbo and makes the half-hour commute to her job as an attorney in Manhattan every day.

“It was my compromise at first, because I lived in the West Village and I didn’t want to leave it. But now I love it and I can’t imagine living anywhere else…I definitely think there’s a mix of that hipster Brooklyn vibe along with a little more sophisticated art gallery vibe. I think it’s really approachable actually and there are so many families here.”

Pausing to juggle a Louis Vuitton tote and dog leash, Block adds, “When we moved originally it was because we couldn’t get such great space … in Manhattan. That was about five years ago. We felt like this reminded us of Tribeca and since we’ve been here the neighborhood has just gotten better and the parks have gotten better, and I have a son so it’s just great for a kid.”

And for pooches, too. Terriers and pit bulls sit leashed at Pedro’s Bar & Restaurant while owners enjoy afternoon margaritas and reading at outdoor tables.

“It’s dope. You can sit outside, drink a margarita and feel like you’re on the beach somewhere. Know what I’m saying?” says Kay Cherry, who works down the street for Linda the Bra Lady, a lingerie line.

Cherry, sporting a black-and-white “Brooklyn” cap, thinks the basketball team’s official entrance into the borough this month will continue to fuel neighborhood pride.

“I can’t wait. Since I live in Brooklyn, now I have to rep for them. Brooklyn is going to be ‘it’ this year,” she promises.

Teens walk by with stylish Afros, stopping by Jacques Torres’ chocolate factory for couture chocolate chip cookies as they head home from school. Meanwhile, doormen in black suits wave “hello’ to blond babysitters, who look like Russian models. And residents in business attire just off work jump off Vespas and out of Porsche Cayennes. They meet up at reBar, a converted industrial loft space, for Belgian beers and macaroni and cheese under fabulous Art Deco lighting fixtures. Some will later head

39

down the hall to reRun, an independent movie theater that boasts a full bar and gourmet snack counter, plus comfortable repurposed seating – from old cars.

Other patrons will vie for a table at culinary hotspot Governor (which The New York Times recently awarded two stars) or its sibling restaurant, the locally sourced, upscale Gran Electrica. There, Day Cruisers.

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Bridge (á la favorite son Walt Whitman).

“There has been a ton of new development here,” says Kristina Skurow, a real estate agent. “When I moved in, they were still finishing the cobblestone streets that are a little further down towards Front Street. Now the Brooklyn Bridge Park is blowing up… and they’re putting a hotel in there as well. They have a lot for the luxury-market clientele. It’s a real melting pot here,” she adds before ducking into Superfine. “When I first moved here, it was one of the first restaurants we went to in the neighborhood, and the people and food are both really great. There’s always a big crowd in here.”

“It’s a very laidback neighborhoody neighborhood,” says Curtis Laraque, who lives in Harlem but works in Dumbo. “There’s not a lot of retail and most of it, especially in this area, still feels very local.”

“The types of businesses that are here are still very creative,” says Jada Williams, of Giant Noise, a Dumbo and Austin, Texas-based PR firm. “It’s where Williamsburg people come to work, you know what I mean? There are shops that support a lot of local artists.”

Williams recognizes that unique meeting place of luxury living and old-school spirit.

“Dumbo has always been a hip neigh-

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Of course, now those smart stragglers from the early ’70s live beside newer residents of sophisticated high-rises. Arguably, the most coveted address is the triplex One Main St., located in the Clock Tower building. There condos with picture-perfect views of the water, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and Brooklyn and Manhattan’s skylines go for $4 million, (and the penthouse will cost you a cool $19 million).

It’s ironic to learn that cool, glamorous Dumbo was actually a 1978 acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Residents thought with such an ugly name, developers would never be able to sell this part of Brooklyn.

Boy, were they ever wrong. n

Justine Block with her dog Chester

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Jay-Z

Net gain Goodbye New Jersey, hello Brooklyn

By Zoë Zellers

O

n Nov. 1, Brooklyn will give Manhattan a run for its money as the Brooklyn Nets make their debut against their cross-river rivals and another NBA season gets under way.

Indeed, when Brook Lopez faces off against the New York Knicks’ Tyson Chandler in the tip-off, the teams will be vying for more than just athletic superiority. The subtext is rich and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The Nets’ move from New Jersey to their new digs, the Barclays Center, means fresh excitement for fans and a possible game-changer for the Knicks.

It’s a rocky rivalry that was made for the tube and the confrontational blogosphere. This is about more than just sports. Choosing to root for the Nets or the Knicks – like rooting for the Yanks or Mets, Giants or Jets – is also a decision of cultural and regional identity that requires some reflection.

Are you a longtime Knicks fan but live in Brooklyn? Do you live in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island or the suburbs but identify more with the Brooklyn lifestyle? Did you lose hope when the Knicks’ James Dolan traded last year’s freshman star Jeremy Lin and don’t want to watch 42

yet another losing season? Which team’s celebrity star players are more noteworthy – the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Mike Bibby or the Nets’ Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Kris Humphries (aka Kim Kardashian’s ex)?

And which uniform colors do you prefer?

Nets vs. Knicks is about a fashion and personal branding, too. The simple, black-andwhite Nets logo is already crowding the bold cobalt blue and bright orange Knicks merchandise on the shelves of Manhattan sports apparel and hip-hop stores. Riding the subway and walking through downtown, it’s easy to observe the growing popularity of Brooklyn Tshirts, hoodies and fitted hats worn by a stew of hip-hop, skater, athletic, fashionable and hipster men, women and their children.

The Nets have launched their branding strategy with careful precision, creating an apparel font that evokes an

Old School feel. It says, “We’ve always been here.” And to that same effect, their Barclays Center court design offers a vintage vibe with a darker finish on a herringbone pattern.

At the same time, the Nets’ stark black-andwhite palette is very edgy, very modern, very Williamsburg, very Dumbo (see related story), very noir. Very New York.

(Which is ironic, when you think that the Knicks sport the city’s official colors – orange, blue and white.)

Still, the Nets’ crisp, understated merchandise is easier to wear if you’re not a big sports fan. Hats that simply read “Brooklyn” are popping up in music videos, as well. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time before they start turning up in London, along with the Tiffanydesigned logo of the Yankees, the Nets’ Yes Network compadres. (See story on the Bronx Bombers.)

Having celebrities wearing the apparel is always a good selling point.

The Nets can now count on minority owner (and Brooklyn-born rapper) Jay-Z to supply Brooklyn apparel to his wife Beyoncé, his league of famous friends and the artists on his record label. Jay-Z is also designing the Nets’ home game whites, which should stand out on that herringbone court. On the other hand, the Knicks have their own super-fan, filmmaker Spike Lee, sitting courtside in his chunky-framed glasses and flashy orange and blue attire.

It’s ironic that Lee was raised in Brooklyn, not far from the Nets’ new home. He made his mark in the film industry with six poignant, nuanced movies about life in Brooklyn. This past August, he released “Red Hook Summer,” which explores the hip-ified Brooklyn neighborhood. And yet, despite a childhood spent in Brooklyn and a love-hate relationship with the struggling Knicks, Spike Lee, like so many New Yorkers, will always bleed orange and blue.

In an August New York Times interview, Spike Lee said, “My son is going to be orange and blue, and his son after him. And they are going to bury me in these colors,” adding, “in Brooklyn.”

Let the games begin.

Shop at Brooklynnets.com. n

Enchanting life

Witches, Indians, hunchbacks – Stephen Schwartz knows them well

By ZoĂŤ Zellers

Cover of the December 3, 1972 Sunday New York News Magazine.

Photograph by Thomas Arma.

S

tephen Schwartz – the creative force behind “Wicked,” “Godspell” and “Pippin,” not to mention a host of Disney movies – finds the theater difficult? Well, that’s as likely as the Good Witch of the North and the Wicked Witch of the West being roomies. Oh, wait a minute.

“To me, there are a lot of miseries about doing musical theater,” the composer-lyricist says between sips of chai latte outside a coffee shop in Ridgefield, the town he’s called home since 1971.

“You know, when you’re alone by yourself and you have to come up with something and then sometimes putting the show on can be an enormous struggle and very difficult,” he acknowledges.

“But, the collaboration when you’re in the room with your collaborators and just bouncing things back and forth is so exhilarating and so much fun. That’s my favorite thing about it and I like that it is a medium where ideas come from everywhere and basically, the best idea wins.”

Something “Wicked”

The Manhattan native’s career began with one of those best ideas when he wrote the music and new lyr44

"Wicked" at the Orpheum Theatre in Omaha.

ics for the 1971 hit musical “Godspell” the year after he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama.

He followed his debut with 1972’s hit “Pippin,” which will be revived late next month at Boston’s American Repertory Theater.

This month he’s looking at his theatrical beginnings, choosing repertoire for The New York Pops’ April 12 retrospective of his work, “The Wizard and I: The Musical Journey of Stephen Schwartz.”

“It’s for my – cough, cough – birthday. I’m horrified,” he says with a chuckle. “But they’re going to do some of the classical stuff and there’s going to be a big chorus, really good singers and, of course, the orchestra. And that’s what’s exciting to me, because you don’t really get that big orchestra on Broadway.”

The Pops’ concert title comes from the mega-hit “Wicked,” which premiered in 2003 and has made Schwartz the only songwriter to have three shows run for more than 1,900 performances on the Great White Way. Like many “best ideas,” its genesis was unexpected.

“We were on a snorkeling trip,” he recalls, “and a friend of mine just said in passing conversation while we were hanging out on the boat on the way back, ‘Oh, I’ve been reading this really interesting book called ‘Wicked’ and it’s kind of the Oz story from the Wicked Witch’s

point of view.’ And I just thought that that was one of the best ideas I’d ever heard and felt for many reasons that it was right in my territory.”

After five years – an average time for most musicals to be developed, according to Schwartz – “Wicked” became a fairy tale of its own, with productions and touring companies around the world while still going strong on Broadway.

Tropical vacations aside, he says, “Connecticut is where I get the bulk of the writing done,” in a Tudor-meets-contemporary home that he and wife Carole, a singer-actress, built in 1974. It’s where they raised their two children – Scott, a theatrical director, and Jessica, the mother of the Schwartzes’ first grandchild, Hannah Lucille.

At home, the multiple Oscar and Grammy winner says, “the whole house is my writing room. …Obviously, I have a studio that I can go into and slide the doors closed, and so that’s kind of where I’ll park myself when I’m writing.”

He explains the process: “I try to get inside. Who is this character and what is his or her world? What does he or she see when their eyes open and what do they hear and what do they smell and what do they want and what are they trying to do and what’s their frame of reference? I try and be true to that and it just makes your job easier for one thing.”

Stephen Schwartz and the cast of "Gepetto."

Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Schwartz.

In writing the lyrics for “Pocahontas,” Schwartz read tons of Native American poetry.

“My sort of mantra is, ‘In lieu of inspiration, do research.’ I find the more I learn about something and the more I immerse myself in it, the more I have to draw upon. I’m not just pulling things out of the air.”

Friendship, the perfect blendship

“Pocahontas” – which Schwartz describes as a “surprise hit” – was a collaboration with his “very good friend” and Westchester neighbor Alan Menken, with whom he teamed on the animated “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and the live action/animated film “Enchanted.”

“Our collaboration was always easy from the beginning. But the rule sort of is that we both have to be happy with everything. If there’s something that he doesn’t like, I may ask him to live with it for a while. But ultimately, I will fix it or just change it, because there’s always another solution. And he’ll do the same. …I feel like if you and your collaborator have the same big goal, if there’s something that’s troubling him or her, there’s probably something wrong with it and, as I say, there’s always another solution.”

His collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on “Mass” when Schwartz was only 23 was more of a teacher-student relationship that taught him not only about music but how to treat people.

“He was so generous of spirit and he would really be attentive.”

When Schwartz met Bernstein for the first time to discuss “Mass,” the famed conductor-composer took the young Stephen and Carole – as well as his own teenage children – out for a casual, family dinner, “just somewhere like the Clam Box.” Sitting at the head of the table, Bernstein asked Carole about herself and her opinions on several subjects.

In that moment, Schwartz realized, “If I ever become famous – I mean no one is ever going to be as famous as Leonard Bernstein – but if I ever become successful and well-known, I want to remember that, to treat people like this. So that’s the kind of thing that is just beyond the musical education of working with him.”

Perhaps with Bernstein in mind, Schwartz returns to Carnegie Mellon at least once a year to teach master

Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz at the 68th Annual Academy Awards.

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Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz recording " The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

David Hashkell stands on the Bethesda Fountain, Central Park, in this scene from "Godspell" the movie.

classes to writers and drama and music students. For the past 15 years, he’s regularly participated in ASCAP musical theater development workshops in New York, Los Angeles and other cities. And he makes it a point to offer insight to young composers and lyricists like Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, whose show “A Christmas Story: The Musical!” comes to Broadway Nov. 5.

It’s no surprise, then, that he’s a big supporter of increased funding for the arts.

“For individual kids, obviously, it promotes a way of creative thinking, a way of approaching the world.

I think that we live in a time in society which is very sadly short of empathy and any appreciation for anybody’s way of living or point of view but one’s own, and I think that the arts are always about empathy.”

“Method writing”

Stephen Schwartz appearing in "Spoon River Anthology."

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Schwartz is applying his own gifts for empathy and critical thinking to a new musical about Harry Houdini, set to star Hugh Jackman.

His “method writing” approach has spurred him to consult several mediums to learn more about the spiritualist character he’s developing.

That same process led him to India this year for a DreamWorks’ animated Bollywood film, a collaboration with composer A. R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”) to be released in 2015.

Schwartz is also bringing “The Hunchback of Notre

Dame” – his 1996 collaboration with Menken for Walt Disney Pictures – to the stage.

“I’m always pleased, because one likes to think that there’s a shelf life and it’s always a good sign if a show has a life beyond its initial production and just is out there in the world. And you know, I’ve been pretty fortunate with that.”

Though his work is highly commercial and kidfriendly, Schwartz says, “I just write what I write and I really don’t think about that. …You want to make sure that the basic story is something that can be understood and invested in by younger audiences. But it’s definitely not being written for them. I actually never think about the age of the audience.

“I’m not a big fan of ‘being entertained’ – you know, just going and seeing something that’s sort of mindless and silly and frothy. I actually find that incredibly tedious. And I’m just not a fan of those musicals. I know some people are and the critics seem to love them – you know, the stupider, the better. But for me, I find them really boring. I actually would rather see a play than a musical.

“If I’m seeing a musical, I’d like it to have some content. …So since I have things that I care about philosophically and intellectually, that’s going to show up in whatever medium I’m working in. And since musical theater is the medium I’m working in, it’s going to show up there.” n

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Taking the high road

By Patricia Espinosa

As autumn draws us into New York City with its exceptional weather, what could be more enjoyable than a stroll through the park as we take in the crisp air and multicolored landscape while watching the crowds of passers-by?

The park I’m thinking of, though, is not Central Park.

It’s one built on a defunct railway set 30 feet above Manhattan, winding 1½ miles through the West Side.

The High Line is a revolutionary park that took old city infrastructure and brilliantly repurposed it as an innovative public park, creating a unique opportunity for new green space.

An overnight sensation, the park has become New York’s hottest must-see destination for out-of-towners and a regular neighborhood hangout for residents. The park is owned by the city but maintained and operated by

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Freight trains ran on the line until 1980.

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As Mayor Michael Bloomberg told The New York Times in July, “In the three short years since the first section opened as a park, the High Line has become a treasured neighborhood oasis, a significant generator of economic activity for the entire city and a celebrated icon for planners, designers and leaders around the world.”

The urban park stretches through three of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods – the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and the beginning of Hell’s Kitchen.

The first section of the park, which runs from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street, was open to the public in June 2009.

Phase two opened this past June and runs from 20th Street to 30th Street.

The third and final section, which will cost $85 million, will end at 34th Street near the Javits Center.

The pry line

A mélange of metal, concrete and foliage creates a bucolic refuge from the bustling streets below while still preserving and honoring the historic freight line that once roared above the city. Walking the forested pathways affords a more intimate cityscape of the neighborhood in the sky where fishbowl apartments offer visitors a voyeuristic view that has led the New York Post to dub the park “the Pry Line.”

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Up-close-and-personal scenes are so beguiling on the green corridor that pedestrians may be tempted to pay more attention to the people than the innovative gardens designed by Piet Oudolf, whose creations draw inspiration from the wild gardens that took root after the trains went into disuse. The variation in design along the 1½-mile stretch is thus reflective of those microclimates that developed naturally on the High Line. The designer’s abundant use of perennials requires less maintenance and allows for an appealing look throughout the four seasons.

Slaughter on 10th Avenue

When you’re not busy people watching or marveling at the gardens, you’ll likely be surprised by the vistas, which give visitors a completely new vantage point from which to see the city.

One of my favorite spots is at 10th Avenue Square, where steel beams of the Square’s upper deck were removed to make way for wooden seating, steps and glass walls, creating a widescreen perspective on 10th Avenue below as visitors watch cars drive underneath the structure. The Square also looks south across the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty.

A wide array of artwork is presented at the popular gathering spot, including Spencer Finch’s “The River That Flows Both Ways,” a glass installation, inspired by a 700-minute journey along the Hudson River, on permanent display. The title comes from the translation of the river’s Indian name, Muhheakantuck.

The park also plays host to many events and fundraisers and provides visitors with hundreds of free community activities, including guided walking tours on Tuesdays.

The High Line was built in the 1930s as part of an effort to end the deadly accidents that occurred between freight trains and street-level traffic. So frequent were the accidents that 10th Avenue became known as Death Avenue.

But as interstate trucking grew, freight train traffic declined, until finally in 1980, the elevated rail saw its final run.

For the next 20 years, nature reclaimed its own. Grasses grew, wildflowers blossomed and trees sprouted. While many saw the wild urban garden as an eyesore, others glimpsed the roots of a new beginning.

Many championed the development of a park, including its co-founders, Joshua David and Robert Hammond; and high-profile residents like actor Edward Norton, who sits on the board; designer Diane Von Fürstenberg and her husband, media tycoon Barry Diller, who have been the park’s biggest financial contributors.

Recently, Von Furstenberg debuted a new collection of limited edition High Line-inspired apparel and products, available exclusively from the High Line Web Shop. All proceeds from merchandise sales support the ongoing maintenance and operations of the High Line. More than 90 percent of the funding is raised by the Friends of the High Line, which is a park for all seasons.

The High Line is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. For more, call the High Line Information Line (212) 5006035 or visit thehighline.org. n

way

A Hudson perch

close to the city

By Mary Shustack Photographs by Bob Rozycki and Tim Lee

51

Presented by Houlihan Lawrence

HUDSON VIEW at a Glance

• Briarcliff Manor • 8,000 square feet • 2.18 acres • Bedrooms: 5 • Baths: 4 full, 2 half • Amenities: Alarm system, balcony, full bar plus wet bar, chef-designed kitchen, culde-sac, three-level decks with multiple access points, eat-in kitchen, exercise room, four fireplaces, game room, privacy, pond, powder rooms, sprinkler-system lawn, vaulted/cathedral ceilings, walkout basement, water views.

• Price: $3.95 million 52

Meriwether and Megan Lewis.

S

ome homes are attractive simply for their physical attributes.

Others seem special because of the way they have been so thoroughly enjoyed by those who live there.

Hudson View in the Scarborough area of Briarcliff Manor is one home where these two elements blend in a wonderfully stylish mix.

A step through the front door might elicit a gasp, as floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-story circular gallery offer glorious views of the 2.18-acre property’s gently sloping grounds. Beyond, it all seemingly melts into the Hudson River, sparkling in the distance.

But for every mention of how the chef-designed kitchen came together or the choosing of the lush blue that adds such flair to the formal dining room, there’s talk of relatives gathering for a family celebration, of guests staying overnight – and perhaps most memorably, a threeday millennium party that featured musicians playing on a balcony above the revelers, full dance performances and even fireworks.

Yes, the home the Lewis family playfully calls The Aerie has been the witness of lives well lived.

“This was a great house for entertaining when I was working on The Street,” says Sambo – or more formally, Meriwether Fielding Lewis.

The family – Sambo, his wife, Megan, and their 20-year-old son, Fielding – now finds itself spending more time at its other residences, or traveling.

“It’s been a great house, a lot of emotion and sweat and tears,” Sambo says with a laugh, recalling the two-year

construction of the five-bedroom, four-bath home that graciously fills 8,000 square feet.

From the ground up

The search for a great house began in the mid-1990s when the Lewis family was set to return to America after nearly a decade living in England.

The couple, through connections at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, heard of a property on the club grounds that was for sale. It then featured a little cabin, “the worst of the ’60s architecture,” Sambo says.

The Lewises had no interest in the structure, but saw great potential in the property – though no one else seemed to.

“We thought someone would snap it up immediately,” Megan says.

Instead, they were able to proceed with the sale and tapped emerging local architect Rad Opacic for the project. Megan, though, was very involved in the design – and had some clear ideas for the home, built in 1998.

Many of the elements – the stucco, the slate roof and even a secret room –were inspired by England.

Yes, a secret room. A panel yields a doorway and a few steps down finds you in a jewel box of a library/study.

“All these doors make panels so you’re not aware they’re here,” Sambo says, giving a glimpse into a hidden wet bar, as well.

“I love secret places,” Megan says.

And that is just one treasure in a home filled with so many, from a pergola-lined patio to four fireplaces (at least one features stones salvaged from the grounds); from

countless walls of glass to vaulted and cathedral ceilings; from a skylit master suite to a sprawling garden-level floor complete with exercise room, guest/nanny facilities and wine room.

The main floor is spacious, but welcoming. There is a tasteful scale that allows expansive living while maintaining warmth and intimacy.

“The rooms are scaled,” Megan says. “You never feel (the house) is too big.”

The formal dining room is a blue-hued retreat, one stylish departure from the airy feel elsewhere.

“We like this because we close these,” she says, motioning to curtains. “Back in your smoking days….” she says to Sambo, who confirms it was a lovely cigar room so many years ago.

A butler’s pantry lies off a chef-designed kitchen that features luxury appliances, an island with high seats and an eat-in area.

“The kitchen is, as usually is the case, where you hang out a lot,” Sambo says.

It flows right into the casual family room where the television is artfully hidden behind more panels.

“We try to hide everything,” Sambo says. “It’s nice not to be confronted with stuff.”

It all came together

“We had not been dreaming of building a house at all,” Megan says. “We built a house because we couldn’t find a house we loved.”

The home even got a local award the year after it was built, honoring architect Opacic, who is now 53

based in Irvington.

“This was by far the most ambitious project he’d taken on at the time,” Megan says.

She had very clear ideas of what she wanted, including the unusual glass-topped cabinets in the kitchen. Megan, a onetime political speechwriter, is now returning to design, an early love.

From the spacious bedrooms to the countless window seats and fireplaces, from a full bar room to a recreation room, the home lends itself to entertaining indoors and out. An elegant living/music room is complete with piano and ample seating.

“The flow of people in the house when you have a party is really lovely,” Megan affirms.

And even when the family would spend time at home alone, such features as a pond and a manmade waterfall added to the restful air.

“It’s lovely to listen to at nighttime,” Megan says, before adding “but people who are light sleepers or don’t like it, you just turn it off.”

In the neighborhood

While Sambo took full advantage of the golfing at the adjacent country club, along with its other amenities, Megan was more interested in riding at its Sleepy Hollow Riding Academy.

“You can get on your horse and cross the road and go for hours,” Megan says of the nearby trails.

Sambo has now started his own business in Manhattan, still in the financial industry after years on Wall Street.

An attraction of the haven on the hill has always been the easy access to the city, “41 minutes by train” as Sambo says.

Returning home always signaled something good.

“Coming back you’re here, and you could be a million miles away from Manhattan,” he says.

And now, the Lewis family prepares to move farther afield.

As Sambo says, “We hate to leave – but it’s time.”

For more information, contact Madelyn Ricciardi at Houlihan Lawrence at (914) 762-7200, ext. 311, at (914) 391-2288 or mricciardi@houlihanlawrence. com. n 54

The

ABCs

of green luxury

By Patricia Espinosa

Giving back never looked and felt so good at ABC Home, Manhattan’s eco-chic home furnishing emporium, where beauty and commerce are tools for change.

As pioneers of eco-consciousness, the iconic Gotham destination has become a place where luxury and social responsibility meet. And frankly, who wouldn’t want to lend a hand, especially when it means that buying a uniquely crafted treasure to adorn your home will help create a better life for a family halfway around the world?

Like the uniquely designed handmade ceramic bowls that support young artists from Cape Town, South Africa or Panda sunglasses made of sustainable bamboo and recycled polycarbonates, with every pair sold providing an eye exam and a pair of prescription glasses to the needy in Colombia’s tribal communities through the TOMA Foundation. Who can possibly resist wonderful wood bowls made from fallen Lenga trees by artisans from Patagonia’s Mapuche community, who have been crafting these chemical-free, food-safe dishes for generations?

“We’re very passionate about preservation of the design DNA of indigenous cultures, because we see that as a kind of endangered, threatened species,” says Paulette Cole, co-founder, CEO and creative director of ABC Home.

Globe-trekker

According to a Nielsen survey released earlier this year, consumers today are savvier than ever, and given the choice, are 66 percent more likely to buy from a company that is socially responsible and environmentally friendly. So it’s no wonder the “green luxury” theme at the famed shop has been embraced by legions of shoppers, who are willing to pay a premium for environmentally and socially responsible goods.

For Cole, social consciousness and retail profitability are not mutually exclusive concepts. Indeed, since returning in 2003 to the company her great-grandfather started more than a century ago – ABC Carpet, located across the street – the New Rochelle native’s commitment to the global community has

Paulette Cole

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helped shape a new paradigm for retail.

“From my point of view, it was about following an intention and purpose. Having the opportunity to use this platform to amplify beauty and commerce as a tool to effect change in the world was something that I felt was incredibly relevant and timely. It made all the work feel so much more worthwhile to combine values and commerce that was impacted with purpose,” she says.

But make no mistake, there is no skimping on style or quality for the mission-driven retailer. On the contrary, the iconic sixstory Manhattan store offers a profusion of the most exquisite furniture, textiles, housewares, jewelry, rugs and gifts brought back from global trips, reflecting an intoxicating mix of cultures, periods and styles.

“We’re on this path of continuous improvement. I see us as seekers and manifesters. So we’re out there looking and sourcing and constantly learning every day, keeping ourselves fresh and reinventing,” says Cole, who’s often on the road buying, because it’s her passion.

Step into the mise-en-scène of the first floor of the store on Broadway and 19th Street and you’ll be transported to a multicultural marketplace, reflecting everywhere from Brooklyn to India. The meticulously curated collections are presented in the most tantalizing displays, tempting shoppers at every turn.

The presentation, she says, is still inspired by nature, with the organic and slow food movements – the latter encouraging the use of local produce – helping to

shape tabletop wares.

You’ll find an array of beautiful raw wood, sculptured furniture and functional art throughout the store.

“Fluorescent (colors) are taking off in a fun way,” Cole says. As is white and colorful furniture from Italy. “It’s light, airy and fun.”

Another idea that’s emerging is lighting that draws its inspiration from the microscopic and the cosmic.

“The trend for us is looking under a microscope at all the cellular activities and kind of imagining that into product – in furniture and lighting.”

Such lighting can complement antique or modern furniture.

For Cole, it’s all about the yin and the yang.

“ABC’s always had a feminine bent, but now more than ever it’s more about balance. It’s more about the modern, crisp, articulate intention being balanced with that sexy, feminine, spiritual, antique presence. …We’re the toolbox for your personal canvas.”

Dining with Jean-Georges

The New York City landmark boasts three restaurants, including ABC Kitchen – a casually elegant farm-to-table eatery created by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (WAG, October 2011). Last year the sustainable restaurant was given the coveted James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant of 2011.

Next spring Jean-Georges will be transforming Pippa – ABC’s Spanish tapas restaurant – into ABC Cocina, serving Spanish cuisine. A third restaurant is also set to debut in the spring, replacing the current Le Pain Quotidien. Its name has not yet been revealed, but it promises to be a creative extension of 21st century food – local, organic and sustainable.

ABC is not just home design and food.

Situated on the mezzanine level is Deepak HomeBase, a space devoted to periodic in-store multimedia conversations exploring health and wellness, innovation, our environment, spirituality and much more, led by mind-body healing pioneer and author, Dr. Deepak Chopra.

The mezzanine also contains apparel featuring a mix of green design, causerelated design and vintage and repurposed clothing.

The visionary store has become a onestop shop for mind, body and soul – a feast for all the senses.

ABC Home & Carpet is at 888 and 881 Broadway at East 19th Street in Manhattan. You’ll find more affordable treasures at ABC’s Bronx outlet. For more information, call (212) 473-3000 or visit abchome.com. n

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Seafood lovers line up at the Oyster Bar.

Venus on the half shell Grand Central Oyster Bar going strong at 100

T

They call him “The Bishop of Bivalves.”

“You could say I’m pretty respected in the oyster business,” says Sandy Ingber, executive chef of the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant in Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal.

Since 1996, Sandy has been king of the crustacean court at the sprawling midtown Manhattan restaurant, which seats more than 500 under its beautifully vaulted Guastavino-tiled ceilings. The not-youraverage-seafood-joint is a superb answer to the bustling commuter’s grumbling tummy and an ideal destination for groups of after-work professionals, while its raw bar makes it onto the must-do list of many domestic and international tourists.

“In 1913, when they renovated Grand Central, they decided to put an oyster bar here and this has always been the iconic place for oysters since,” Sandy says. “One of the things about the Oyster Bar is, true to advertising, customers always know they can get exactly what they order in our restaurant.

“I go to Fulton Fish Market every day. I handpick all my fish. I do purchase some fish directly through the fishermen. …Relationships at Fulton Fish Market are very, very important and these guys know exactly the quality that I use and my specifications since I’ve been going to the same guys for 22 years. And another thing is, we pay our bills. They never have to worry about that.”

Oyster-ology

So what does the chef recommend?

“For beginner oyster eaters, we almost always recommend the Blue Points.

They’re mild, easy to eat and also local.

They’re our bestsellers.

“Of course, Wellfleets are some of our most popular oysters. A lot of standby oysters that we’ve had for a long time are Pemaquids from Maine. They’re a very good, briny oyster. Martha’s Vineyard is also very 58

By Zoë Zellers Images courtesy of The Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant popular, and in Canada, Malpeque is by far the most popular. Names are very important to our customers. They’ve heard these names a lot. They often tell us exactly what they want because they know these names. …Then there’s the European flat oyster, Belon. It usually comes from the Brittany coast of France. It’s very briny with a metallic aftertaste.”

Sandy offers this rule of thumb: “Usually the more briny the oyster, the more sophisticated the slurper is.”

Of course, connoisseurs do get territorial when it comes to East Coast vs. West Coast.

“West Coast oysters mostly have the same flavor profile. Almost all of them are sweet, and there’s not that much distinction between most of them,” Sandy says.

“Some have a little melon or cucumber, but they’re all basically sweet. They come in different sizes. We prefer to purchase West Coast oysters that are usually at least three inches,” he adds, mentioning that customers like the size of the popular sweet and creamy Kumamotos he obtains from California and Oregon.

Sandy suggests trying the Grand Central Oyster Platter ($19.95). It offers eight oysters from four different origins.

“We started that about 10 years ago, and one of the things that I love about it is it gives me a chance to really move oysters. If there’s any oyster that I really want to move, if people don’t know it and just don’t buy it, I put it on the platter and one, it educates the customer and two, I’m selling between 75 and 100 platters a day.”

Eating urchins

Sit at red-and-white-checkered tables with friends, a date, kids or alone and slurp oysters on the half shell with a glass of Champagne, stout or at the suggestion of Alex Dimitropoulos – the Oyster Bar’s mixologist of more than 30 years – order the ZD 2010 Chardonnay, the Domaine

Fournier Sancerre 2009, the Hermines D’Argent Muscadet Sevre Et Mains, or the J.J. Prum Bernkasteler Kabinett 2011 and Paul Blanck Grand Cru Schlossberg 2007 Rieslings.

The chef also recommends the Bloody Mary shooter.

“It’s basically tomato juice, horseradish, Worcestershire, Tabasco and to make a shooter, we do Bloody Mary mix, put in a Blue Point oyster and top it with Double Cross vodka,” Sandy says.

With oysters prevalent through the menu, he estimates, “Right now, we’re averaging about 3,000 to 4,000 oysters a day just on the half shell. That’s not including any of the cooked oysters that are on the half shell either.”

Sandy point outs the popularity of his fried seafood, says his clam chowder is “really kid friendly,” offers that he always includes three non-seafood dishes and mentions another popular dish: “Today was the first day of sea urchin season. They’re absolutely wonderful and they’re perfect on the raw bar. When I say they’re undressed, I really mean it. All we do is cut the top off and give it to the customer and they take a spoon and dig out the roe and have a good time with it. All kinds of customers are ordering this.”

Seafood to go

Sandy’s menu offers creativity, which will be spotlighted when “The Grand Central Oyster Bar Cookbook” is released early next year to commemorate the restaurant’s 100th birthday.

“It was always very straightforward American-style seafood, without having any European or Asian flair – just boiled fish, lobster and steamers and oysters on the half shell. But we’ve changed a lot with the times and … it’s fun for us, too,” says Sandy, a 1977 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.

One of the things Sandy loves is that

“about 50 percent of our business is businessmen, people who are in Grand Central and commuters. …They’re people who have grown up coming into Grand Central with their father or their grandfather and they brought their kids

Sandy Ingber

to eat at the Oyster Bar. …They say, ‘My father would take me here, and I used to order the oyster stew when I was 8 years old and I still love it.’ There are so many stories like that so yes, commuters have always been a huge part of business.” In fact, “we’re really looking forward to the Long Island Railroad coming into Grand Central. …That’s supposed to bring over 100,000 more commuters daily.”

So, healthy eating aside, why should all these commuters skip the hot dog stand and the long pizza line for a bite at the Oyster Bar? “Quality and we’re prepared,” Sandy answers quickly.

“They invented the New York minute for us, OK? They can come in, we have a takeout counter right here during peak times and they can get soup, sandwiches or full meals, all within five to 10 minutes,” Sandy says.

“We don’t sell raw oysters to go, that’s the only thing.” n

wear

In praise of the LBD

C

By “Diva Debbi” O’Shea

lose your eyes and picture a beautiful woman in a Little Black Dress (LBD) – the uniform of New York City.

Chances are you conjure Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in the film of the Truman Capote’s classic, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

The iconic opening scene – featuring a pre-dawn, whippetthin Audrey, dressed in perfectly cut Givenchy, long gloves, dark glasses and a swirling updo – is seared into our consciousness.

Hepburn/Holly’s LBD is her armor, her art and her artifice.

So what is it about an LBD that demands space in every woman's closet?

LBDs are forgiving – Slip one on and you instantly look thinner and taller when it’s well-cut and figure-appropriate. Here a talented seamstress or tailor is a good person to develop a relationship with.

LBDs are great cheaters – It can be as difficult to spot an inexpensive LBD as it is to detect a cubic zirconia at a glance. With haute couture runway being copied and reproduced for the H&Ms and Zaras of the world within weeks, all you need is your best accessories, good posture and a little attitude.

LBDs are versatile – You can easily segue from day to night, simply by swapping daytime pumps for nighttime Jimmy Choo platform sandals. Leave your tote behind and pull out your YSL clutch, add a pop of bling and you are good-to-go to an event or dinner.

LBDs are good travelers – An LBD looks as chic in L.A. or Monaco as it does in New York City. If it’s knit or jersey, pack it well in tissue, and chances are you won't even need to steam it on arrival.

LBDs are timeless – As an investment, a good LBD is as solid as a savings bond. I still wear a Dolce & Gabbana sleeveless wool turtleneck sheath dress I bought back in 2002. Why would I part with it? It looks as fabulous and stylish as the day I bought it. At this point, it costs pennies per wear.

LBDs are brainless – It may be the one item in your closet you put on with complete confidence that requires no second-guessing. If you have ever lamented the ease with which men get dressed every day, well, the LBD should give you some comfort.

Is there a menswear equivalent to the Little Black Dress? Of course.

A classic navy blazer and gray trousers can gracefully take a man almost anywhere. Since it is a staple in most men's wardrobes, it makes sense to buy the finest quality you can afford. Originally, most navy blazers were double-breasted, from their uniform origins. Most men prefer the ease of a single-breasted style, because to look their best, double-breasted jackets must remained buttoned.

Optimally, it’s best to have a light-weight wool version for warmer months and a heavier cashmere or flannel for the winter months. Silhouettes are so much slimmer and more refined in cut than they were years ago. You can appear several pounds thinner just by taking the leap. Merely altering your old blazer will not do the trick. The shoulder line will be broader and will not tailor well. It's worth every penny to update your navy blazer if it is more than a few years old.

Personality can easily be injected with the choice of shirts and ties. Khakis or ivory linen trousers can replace gray wool or flannel in the spring and summer.

A more formal approach would be a perfectly cut dark suit in a midnight navy or charcoal gray with a crisp white shirt, pocket square and a brown slipon shoe. No tie required. It's elegant and irresistible and gives every man who wears it the touch of je ne sais quoi that women adore.

If a man were sipping coffee and gazing into a window at dawn, either coming to or from me, that's exactly what I would imagine he'd be wearing.

Holly, meet your match.

Visit Diva Debbi at divadebbi.blogspot.com. n

60

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61

Painting the town in splashes of pastels

By Zoë Zellers Artwork courtesy of Anne Watkins

O

n a Saturday afternoon in Harlem, just as the burgeoning sun starts to redden and dip down into the Manhattan skyline, watercolorist and fashion illustrator Anne Watkins stands at the wall of PicNic Market & Café, a seasonal, family-run French restaurant and the site of her small art class. Anne pats a student’s floral watercolor picture against that wall, examines it, smiles and gasps.

“Oh, just look at this. I guess my teaching’s done here,” she says jokingly, then turns to peer at her students through her plastic red and purple-rimmed glasses.

“What do you think about this one?”

This is the way Anne teaches, using a conversational style that’s enhanced by personal stories and quirky observations she’s collected through her decades-long love affair with her ultimate source of inspiration – the city.

As Anne pedals her bicycle from the Riverside Drive apartment she shares with her photographer husband and adopted cats and dog up Broadway to one of her art classes, her petite frame leans with the weight of supplies and a hefty portfolio.

“I come from a long line of teachers. I resisted becoming one because it felt expected. I feared that teaching would interfere with my art-making habits,” she says.

“But as any good teacher would tell me, just the opposite happened.”

Since January, teaching has become a new and pleasant venture for the watercolorist who works on commission, documenting weddings and high-profile celebrations across the nation, and painting portraits of industry leaders, performers, athletes, children, animals (perhaps her favorite subjects) and city scenery. Anne’s fashion illustrations have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Town & Country, Martha Stewart Weddings and Harper’s and have also been used to advertise major lines, including Levi’s, Paul Stuart, Thom Browne, Bergdorf Goodman and Coach.

Beyond the window dressing

The act of making a watercolor is by nature a fast, freeflowing experience – usually 20 minutes per work, she says, although she has finished many fashion and wedding illustrations in five minutes, too.

“I never ask a subject to pose,” she says, but instead paints from observation.

“I make records of the things I see and watercolor al62

lows that to happen quickly. Painting what captures my attention deepens the experience of seeing and uncovers a feeling.”

Always artistically inclined, Anne worked from the late 1980s to 2000 in visual merchandising, creating striking Madison Avenue window displays, sometimes with virtually no budget. Her first major job – and a great platform for her creativity – was serving as the one-person display department for Hermès, where she first created arresting tableaux using furniture found at The Salvation Army.

“I’ve realized my career shifts every 12 years,” she says.

In 2000, Anne discovered a rewarding transition from visual merchandising when she fine-tuned her passion for watercolor under the tutelage of her late mentor, the then-86-year-old Mario Cooper at the Art Students League in Manhattan.

“People make art a million different ways. Early on, watercolor claimed me. I love its fluid softness and subtle strength,” she says of what she describes as a “surprisingly muscular, cruelly misunderstood medium.”

“It is called difficult, treacherous, hard to control. I would love for more people to give it a chance. I find it portable, fresh, freeing and fleet.”

And to that effect, Anne says, “I almost always travel with my watercolor kit. I carry it just about every day, everywhere.”

Her sense of personal purpose in the pursuit of her next worthy subject is not financially tied or necessarily connected to what is deemed the look du jour. It’s about her quiet observations that capture the spirit in the room and yet leave the viewer with something to ponder.

Last year, Anne, being quite the broad-brimmed hatwearer herself, took her bike and paints through the rain to the annual Hat Luncheon in Central Park. At the event, given by the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, Anne created fabulous portraits of the swarm of social butterflies. Her sophisticated watercolors caught the eye of New York Times’ photographer Bill Cunningham.

“Bill and I are pen pals now,” Anne says with obvious delight, adding, “He’s shot me before, but I never made it into the papers.”

Nevertheless, Cunningham sent Anne photos he’d taken of her painting that day and wrote a touching note: “The poetry of your vision of the luncheon is enchanting even in the rain. With a few dashes of pastel color, you capture all the beauty of the luncheon guests. Thank you for sharing, Bill.”

The young artist

Anne’s sharing and creating were always encouraged as she was growing up in suburban Pittsburgh, where her mother made sure her art box was well-stocked.

“My family and schoolteachers treated me like an artist and so I figured I was one. …(My mother) made art, too, showing me by example the joy she got from both the doing and the sharing – wonderful lessons. One of her heroes was Peter Hunt, a wood furniture painter, who said that people who worked with their hands were happier people. I believe that.”

In the 1970s, New York called to the ambitious, independent-minded Anne. She still loves living and working in a city where inspiration can be found literally on any street corner.

“My favorite question that I’ve ever been asked – and I just about died, it was said so eloquently – was when one groom said to me, ‘How can you see like that with your eyes open?’”

For more, email anne@annewatkins, call (212) 866-0057 or visit annewatkins.com. n 63

R

alph LAUREN

64

Latin loving Spring duds cry ‘Olé!’

Was it the influence of muy macho, muy caliente Argentine polo player – and Ralph Lauren Polo spokesmodel – Nacho Figueras? Or is that just our fevered imaginings?

Perhaps the latter, but there’s no doubt that there was a definite Latino flavor to the Spring 2013 Collection that Westchester’s own Ralph Lauren unveiled during New York Fashion Week.

Olympians Conor Dwyer, left, and Ryan Lochte, right, flank Ralph and Ricky Lauren.

Angular bolero hats and frilly bolero jackets over slinky mermaid gowns in black, white or red; long-waisted dresses fanning into ruffles; and brocaded matador-style suits conjured for us a night under the stars in Andalusia with the cry of its gypsy melismata and the sinuous rhythms of its flamenco. Even the berets were less Picasso in his Parisian garret than Picasso at the bullfights in Madrid.

The de rigueur celebrity guests certainly seemed to like what they saw.

Among them were fetching actresses Jessica Alba (in black and yellow plaid) and Olivia Wilde (in orange silk faille).

They were seated next to gold-medal studs Ryan Lochte and Conor Dwyer (in Ralph Lauren Black Label), who were quite the duo about town. (Ryan, does Michael know?)

Apparently, the bromance lives. The pair caught up with Phelps at the Details magazine party.

Now if the adorable Nathan Adrian would join the trio about town, they’d have enough for a relay.

– Georgette Gouveia

65

les nouvelles by

Fashion Week came and went, but we’ll always have the pictures. Here’s a look into some of my week’s most glamorous and hippest highlights – including sitting across from fashion queen Suzy Menkes at the Osklen show, joking with DJ duo AndrewAndrew about writing an opera at the Tiffany & Co. fall bash, discovering that a well-heeled Kimora Lee Simmons actually dwarfs most models, running into quite a few of my past WAG interview subjects outside the stunning 111th anniversary Bergdorf Goodman Fifth Avenue store windows, and scoring frontrow face-time at the Refinery 29 x Spin Magazine party, hosted at Brooklyn’s chic Wythe Hotel.

In a stellar performance, partygoers saw music and fashion get its new ambassador – Azealia Banks, Harlem’s stylish, talented young musician. (Karl Lagerfeld was an early fan of Azealia).

66

Shining in vintage Armani

Fashion bloggers

Whitney Port

Party at the Wythe Hotel.

Azealia Banks

Inside the tents.

January 2012

september 2012

August 2012

May 2012

June 2012

GeorGina BloomBerG’s independent spirit Josie Natori light, Breezy, sexy fashioNs

Jack Mitchell

the zeN of Jeff Bridges

tiffany’s Many facets

Bam!

Class Class

class vs. cRass

lighten up

Steven Visscher gives ‘Boardwalk Empire’ punch

elegance on tRack

all keyed up

gentleMan developeR RobeRt weisz

John Ford is master of the 88s

psych-oh!

CrowninG aChievements

Man o’ War to Barbaro

in a class of his own

We’re on the couch

time to

lighten up time to

We’re on the couch

psych-oh!

the uppeR cRust Abigail Kirsch Stone Barns Stonehenge

Stonehenge Stone Barns Abigail Kirsch the uppeR cRust

master of the 88s John Ford is

all keyed up

RobeRt weisz developeR gentleMan

‘Boardwalk Empire’ punch Steven Visscher gives

on tRack elegance

Bam!

Jeff Bridges the zeN of

sexy fashioNs light, Breezy, Josie Natori

class vs. cRass Many facets tiffany’s of his own in a class

Double-take

mark sanChez

estraDa brothers make fashion waves

Jets Stud

polo, anyone?

in the key of life

With adie von Gontard Jr.

tony Award winner ted sperling

Bonnie edelman

Corralling horses (with a lens)

those lips, that strut…

peGasus therapeutiC ridinG

Must be Mick

Winged hope

tv’s money man aDam Johnson

ivanka’s fashion Bouquet earthy delights from Persia to The Botanical Garden

taking root

Winston Flowers arrives in Greenwich

sculpting summer summer sculpting

shaping the land

Byers, Kramer and Johnson

virginity as a gooD thing?

at home

with Daniele Churchill

tom beebe makes you wanna look

winners’

swinging on kiawah islanD

ACts

we love

ACts

we love

stacy Bass

A shutterbug alights

winners’

kiawah islanD swinging on

A shutterbug alights

wanna look makes you tom beebe

stacy Bass

with Daniele Churchill

at home

gooD thing? virginity as a

Byers, Kramer and Johnson

shaping the land

aDam Johnson tv’s money man

Winged hope

therapeutiC ridinG peGasus

Must be Mick

that strut… those lips,

Corralling horses (with a lens)

Bonnie edelman

ted sperling tony Award winner

of life in the key

With adie von Gontard Jr.

polo, anyone?

make fashion waves estraDa brothers

Jets Stud

Double-take

arrives in Greenwich Winston Flowers

taking root

The Botanical Garden from Persia to

earthy delights

fashion Bouquet ivanka’s

mark sanChez

Jack Mitchell

Man o’ War to Barbaro

aChievements CrowninG

spirit independent BloomBerG’s GeorGina

January 2012

september 2012

August 2012

May 2012

June 2012

mag.com WHERE CLASS MEETS SASS 67 FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF

Back to black

By Zoë Zellers

Black

Black onyx ring with "Signature" oval diamond band.

Black onyx bead bracelet with diamond oval center.

68

Cabochon cocktail ring in white gold with onyx diamonds.

All jewelry by Ivanka Trump.

is the color of New York, whether you’re sporting Ralph Lauren’s leather motorcycle jacket uniform on the Lower East Side or an Armani dress ensemble on the Upper, preppy Chanel riding boots or provocative studded Valentino pumps.

So this fall, why not add a little black bling?

At Betteridge Jewelers in Greenwich, you’ll find antique onyx pieces ranging from special cocktail jewelry to everyday cuffs and rings. Behind each is a story that’s as much of a conversation-starter as that strong onyx and silver bracelet or delicate drop earrings, which flatter women of all ages.

On the contemporary side of the equation, black diamonds have a subtle sparkle – sort of like diamonds in the rough. Black diamond-imbedded pendants, earrings and rings beg the curious to lean closer to get that dazzling effect.

And blackened gold details for men and women offer something of a character sketch. The message here is “I’m a style-savvy and detail-oriented yet trend-free shopper.” The ebony-ed fashionista and fashionisto aim for quality and functionality, but are bold enough to stray from conventional gold and white gold. While we are seeing more hot pinks and exciting neons in jewelry than ever, beautiful fine jewelry in basic black will always remain in fashion, from season to season and generation to generation. n

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69

wine&dine

the right pair

By Geoff Kalish, MD

Call us for your next private party

70

Do wines have seasons – and if so, what should we drink in the fall?

In summertime when “the livin’ is easy,” most of us prefer light, fruity wines, quite independent of the fare. In cooler months, we trend toward heartier whites and reds and favor bubbly at year’s end with a wide range of starters and maincourse items. However, for those with even moderately demanding palates, wine seasonality is best based not on weather or whim, but on the flavors of the fare usually served at that time of year.

For example, spring lamb pairs perfectly with reds fashioned from the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal – the protein of the meat smoothing the tannins of the wine. And oysters at their cool weather peak of perfection mate harmoniously with Chardonnay and French White Burgundy – the whites enhancing the mineral quality of the bivalves with a touch of lively citrus. On the other hand, some matches are awful with most young wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes mating poorly with any dish containing tomatoes, especially ripe end-of-summer varieties. A tinny aftertaste is the usual result of the combination. And Chardonnay with asparagus – particularly those of early spring – is a no-no, generally leading to unpleasant vegetal flavors.

So to aid consumers with matching wine to the fare of fall, here’s advice from a few savvy metro-area professionals, followed by some of my favorite pairings for the season. (Prices listed are typical retail for 750 ml bottles): Dustin Wilson, wine director for Eleven Madison Park restaurant in Manhattan, says that “with sweeter squash, like butternut, I prefer New World Pinot Noir, finding the ripe fruit of the wine a nice complement to the vegetable, and I enjoy older white Burgundy or Rhône with roasted mushrooms – the bit of age and textures of the wine adding to the earthy flavors of the fare. And while for squab the choice of wine generally depends on the accompaniments, with duck, especially the honey-lavender coated version served at our restaurant, I generally recommend Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the ripe fruit of the wine pairing perfectly with the savory, smoky and peppery tones of the bird.”

Billy Rattner, wine director for the Xaviar’s Restaurant Group, finds that “when the first chills of fall begin to arrive and the

menus offer a bit more heft and heartiness, I look to wines of greater structure and savory spice, the whites from Italy’s overlooked and much-maligned Soave region such as the luscious 2011 Cantina del Castello Cru Pressoni ($24) and 2011 Filippi Castelcerino ($30). In reds, I go for wines from grapes of the Rhône that show earthy and spicy richness, like the 2011 Domaine Jaume La Friande Côtes du Rhône ($10) and the 2009 Arnot-Roberts Hudson Vineyard Syrah from Carneros, California ($50).”

“At our Tarry Lodges in Port Chester and Connecticut, we feature wines from Sicily and Campania with the early fall regional menu,” says co-owner/sommelier Nancy Selzer. “These reds from hot southern regions of Italy are bursting with rich, dark fruit that matches fare like our ricotta mezzaluna and braised items like osso bucco. Two choices of note are a 2009 Sicilian Firrato Etna Rosso ($10) and a 2010 Terradora Anglianco from Campania ($13).

For later in the season at Thanksgiving dinner, I prefer American wines like the 2010 Copper Mountain Reserve Pinot Noir from Oregon ($24) and the 2010 Palmina Barbera from Santa Barbara, Calif. ($24).”

Thomas Carter, the wine director for Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, also likes wine from the Syrah grape with fall fare, particularly Côte Rôtie reds from Michael Stephen and Cornas from Frank Balthazar. In addition, he touts the red Burgundies from Denis Bachelet in Gevry and Morey St. Denis from Domaine Dujac.

The 2007 Scherrer “Old and Mature Vines” Zinfandel ($28) and the 2009 Olson Ogden Unti Vineyard Syrah ($44) are two personal favorites that I find match a wide range of fare, from the squashes and mushrooms of early fall to game birds, venison, pumpkin, and the many flavors of Thanksgiving dinner. Hailing from California’s Alexander Valley, the Scherrer Zinfandel shows a dark crimson hue and intense bouquet and taste of cherries, ripe berries and anise with a hint of vanilla in the finish. The Unti Vineyard Syrah from Dry Creek Valley has a deep purple color and a bouquet and taste of blackberries, currants and an elegant finish with a touch of spice. And those seeking good value to match the many flavors of Thanksgiving dinner should go for the 2009 Rosenblum Vintner’s Cuvee Syrah ($10), with a rich, berried bouquet and a taste perfect to mate with the likes of cranberries, peppery stuffing and roast turkey. n

71

well

A special day in an important month

S

adly, national statistics show that seven out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer are never told about their breast reconstruction options, despite the fact that multiple research studies have demonstrated that breast reconstruction can be critical in improving the quality of life for women with this disease.

To help raise awareness of this problem, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and our national spokesperson, Jewel, are partnering to promote Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Oct. 17.

In light of this event, which comes midway through Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to reflect on the status of our treatment of this disease and the critical role the reconstructive surgeon plays in patient-centered care.

To me, the job of the reconstructive surgeon can be defined as making the transition from the first diagnosis of cancer back to a normal life less stressful and as painless as possible for our patients. For patients who choose lumpectomy for their surgery, the reconstructive surgeon can offer a simultaneous breast lift, augmentation or reduction that can improve the appearance of the breast in the same operation in which the cancer is removed. Treatment and reconstruction of the cancer can also be combined with surgery on the opposite breast for symmetry. Many end their treatment with their cancer removed and cosmetic enhancement of the breasts.

Multiple research studies have shown and confirmed that breast preservation with lumpectomy, when combined with appropriate postoperative radiation therapy, offers equivalent results in survival when compared with mastectomy.

Knowing that the breast can be safely preserved while treating their cancer has been extremely reassuring to many patients.

The need for five to six weeks of daily radiation therapy can be daunting to many women, however. One of the most promising recent developments has been the emergence of Iort, or IntraOperative Radiation Therapy. With this technique, a single booster dose of radiation therapy is given in the area im72

By Michael Rosenberg, MD

Jewel, national spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, will be front and center for Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day Oct. 17.

mediately surrounding the just removed cancer at the time of the lumpectomy.

Ongoing research is aimed at addressing whether the course of radiation therapy can be shortened.

For those women who choose mastectomy, there is great excitement regarding nipple sparing for those women who can safely have the breast cancer removed without disturbing the nipple or areola area. With this technique, the breast tissue is removed. But in addition to preserving the overlying skin of the breast, the areolar complex and nipple

are preserved as well. The operation is then combined with an implant reconstruction or movement of the patient’s own tissue to reconstruct the breast.

In many patients who undergo bilateral mastectomy, the results can be striking. If the nipple has to be removed to treat the cancer, a skin-sparing mastectomy can be used to leave the basic architecture of the breast intact and nipple reconstruction can then be performed as an office procedure, followed by tattooing of a new areola area. Alternatively, for those women who can’t

or don’t want to have implants used in their reconstruction, the body’s own tissue, such as the abdomen in the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous) flap, can be moved to reconstruct the breast. In addition to the reconstruction, the patient ends up with an abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck) as well. The abdominal flap used for breast reconstruction can also be done preserving much of the normal musculature. The use of the DIEP flap – which involves the techniques of microsurgery to move abdominal tissue to reconstruct the breast without unduly disturbing the abdominal wall musculature – has also grown in popularity.

In another exciting turn of events, there has been a great deal written recently about the role of genetic screening and the possibility of tailoring the therapy of breast cancer to the individual at the genetic level. As we continue to advance our knowledge of the human genome (the set of DNA that forms the blueprints of our anatomy and function), we can also identify certain genes that are associated with cancer and treat the patient before the disease has progressed. For example, a mutation on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene sequences identifies a group of women at significantly higher risk for developing breast cancer and currently, we recommend mastectomy to prevent development of cancer. While this has been a huge advance in our treatment of this disease, we look forward to the emergence of medical therapies that can have a similar effect in preventing cancer by being able to identify and treat women before surgery is needed.

There is so much more we can offer our patients with breast cancer who are interested in reconstruction that consultation with a qualified breast reconstructive surgeon should be an important part of their preoperative preparation. In addition, advances in the treatment of the breast cancer itself continue to increase the options available to women. I strongly recommend a team approach to treatment for women confronted with a new diagnosis.

Please send any questions or comments to mrosenberg@nwhc.net. n

Rx and the city

I

remember how I felt when I was practicing medicine in Westchester County in the mid-1980s and a patient would tell me that if he needed really important medical care or surgery, he would go into Manhattan.

It was like a stab to my heart. I was as good a doctor as any in Manhattan. Indeed, many of my friends from our training years in New York City had settled around the country, where I was sure they were practicing top-notch medicine, too.

I knew all this in my heart but did not say anything for fear of being perceived as an egomaniac competing for patients with the Manhattanites.

Since I am a product of New York City education and medical training, however, we have to give credit where credit is due. The first medical school in the country was started in New York City in the 1700s, and there are seven medical schools in the metro area today (including New York Medical College in Valhalla). As a direct result, there’s also an overwhelming number of specialists, experts and professors in the Big Apple, and few places as technologically advanced and cutting-edge.

But life is strange and my career in medicine has taken me from trauma to critical care, from internal medicine to anti-aging and hormones and it all pretty much happened geographically in Westchester. That is until one day about 12 years ago when I became a Manhattan doctor.

It was not me succumbing to Manhattan’s cachet. No, it occurred simply because a nutritionist friend of mine invited me to share his office on Central Park West and 74th Street. At that point in my life, it made sense for me to start my anti-aging practice there.

I had stopped practicing internal medicine for two years and was already demonstrating how to stay young and healthy with the anti-aging protocols I had developed and treatments I wrote about in books and disseminated through the media.

With this new direction in my professional life, I was no longer examining patients or going to hospitals. The offer to go to Manhattan seemed a great opportunity to reinvent my practice, since my focus had drifted so faraway from con-

By Erika Schwartz, MD

ventional internal medicine, and Manhattan proved a fertile ground for me.

I went back to my medical school, became involved with the alumni association and quickly fell into the New York doctor groove.

What I didn’t expect was how different the patients I started to see would be.

They were movie stars, financial magnates, Nobel Prize winners and others as well.

Initially, I found myself impressed by them. I got to tend to people like the rock star I had a crush on as a teen, the TV star whose series I watched religiously and the Broadway actors I applauded as they received Tonys. I made house calls to patients who had Andy Warhol originals of themselves in their apartments.

Suddenly, I was taking care of the rich and the famous. I still do that every day as I commute to Manhattan from my Westchester home.

But as the decades roll together, I have learned that the people I care for are all made of flesh and blood. They have their

troubles and their fears. They are human like everybody else.

In fact, I’ve learned that sometimes being famous is a detriment to getting good care. All too often people who have unlimited means can afford to go doctor- and treatment-shopping. Sometimes, they won’t stop until they find the one who won’t say “no” to an unreasonable request. I myself have lost a couple of famous patients, because I said “no” to them and they did not realize or understand I was just doing my job – trying to protect them from themselves. They just wanted their way and moved on to the next “best doctor.”

New York City may be a mecca of medical care in the eyes of many, but it is only if you get the care you need. For now, I’ll continue being a Manhattan doctor, knowing that wherever I go, it is my knowledge and my concern for the patient that makes me a good doctor, not my office address.

For more information, email Dr. Erika at Erika@drerika.com. n

But life is strange and my career in medicine has taken me from trauma to critical care, from internal medicine to anti-aging and hormones and it all pretty much happened geographically in Westchester. That is until one day about 12 years ago when I became a Manhattan doctor.

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wagging

Tails of the city

F

By Sarah Hodgson Photograph by Sinéad Deane

rom the burbs to the boroughs, the tristate area is often a wonderful place to be a pet, and thus, a pet owner.

For dog owners living in the Big Apple, it’s hard to choose a favorite from the long list of personal services. Is it the gourmet meals and custom beverages? Maybe, it’s the abundance of personal grooming salons, fitness studios, day-care services, private tutoring and excellent public schools. And that’s just for the pooches.

Perhaps you’re a fan of the poop pickup and takeaway services or live in a building that offers round-the-clock pet concierge services. As in so many things, New York City leads the way in dog-centric activities and all-around dog love.

Spend some time in New York City, still the media capital of the world, and you’ll learn all about pets – from television and radio spots, targeted Internet ads, billboards, newspapers and magazines. Slowly, the role of pets has changed, from trusted worker to beloved companion, and the business world has taken notice. Pets are right up there with kids. Sometimes, they are the kids.

This goes along with something I started noticing in the 1980s. Pet names were changing, with Champ, Buck and Lady being replaced by more human names. Last week, I trained a Shih-Poo named Monroe; housetrained Rose, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; and helped Harold, the Labradoodle learn to walk on a leash.

Life for an urban dog or cat is different than for their country cousins, but the reason people gather pets around them is the same. Pets offer solace and companionship, whether your home 74

and hearth is a chic penthouse or a casual cabin. Pets – who see us for who we are, overlooking flashy attire and ignoring the balance in our checkbook – often provide us with the unconditional love, the feeling of home and the warmth we left behind with our parents.

While routine veterinary services have always been available for animals, urban centers like New York City have upped the ante. There are medical specialists, drugs and therapies for pets that prevent and treat common and obscure conditions. Pets can attend school, work with a personal trainer, play at a park or meet friends (and mates) through social media. Pet stores have evolved from small corner shops to superstores.

Now widen your lens to the bedroom communities that hover around the cityscapes and you’ll see much of the same. Few move out of the city alone, but for those who do, pets can offer the same unconditional acceptance that calms and connects them. For families who reinforce the Pet Commandments (thou shall not hit, squeeze, poke, prod, or kick thy pet) pets help to socialize the kids, teaching empathy and kindness and conferring a sense of responsibility. And don’t get me started on the empty nester. While some prefer travel and the freedom from responsibility, most fill their hallways with the patter of paws, doting on their forever children with the same devotion spent on their children.

While the tristate area is famous for restaurants, shopping and entertainment, home will always be where the heart is. And many hearts – from the city to the country and all points in between – are comforted by the pets whose own hearts beat alongside theirs.

Learn more from and about Sarah, WAG’s Pet Whisperer, at whendogstalk.com. n

when&where THURSDAY OCTOBER 11 ‘COME FOR THE FASHION, LEAVE WITH HOPE FOR THE FUTURE’

An annual luncheon for Hope’s Door, 11:45 a.m. networking reception, silent auction and raffle, 12:30 to 2 p.m. buffet; Crabtree’s Kittle House, 11 Kittle Road, Chappaqua. $125. (914) 747-0828, hopesdoorny.org.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12 ‘CORKS & FORKS’

Food and spirits to benefit The Burke Rehabilitation Center and The Women’s Club of White Plains Foundation, 7 to 11 p.m.; The Woman’s Club of White Plains, 305 Ridgeway, White Plains. $90.

(914) 686-0994, womansclubofwhiteplains.org.

‘LIGHT UP THE NIGHT’

An evening benefiting Andrus, which helps children in need, 6 p.m. cocktails, 7:15 p.m. dinner; The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, 3 Renaissance Square, White Plains. $200. (914) 965-3700, andrus1928.org.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 13 GIULIANA RANCIC AT THE PALACE

Entertainment journalist Giuliana Rancic discusses “Taking Control of Your Destiny: The Power of a Positive Attitude,” 8 p.m.; The Palace, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford. $100, $65, $45, $30 (plus SCA fees).

(203) 325-4466, scalive.org.

‘UN BALLO IN MASCHERA’

Caramoor’s masked ball includes cocktails in the Spanish Courtyard, followed by performances, a reading by Tony Award-winner Zoe Caldwell, dinner, dancing and a silent auction; 7 p.m.; 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah. $1,000, $750, $350.

(914) 232-5035, caramoor.org.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 14 ANNUAL JAZZ BRUNCH

TUESDAY OCTOBER 16 IN GOOD SPIRIT

The 22nd annual Sylvia Muldoon Woman of Spirit Award Luncheon, honoring author Mary Higgins Clark, 11:30 a.m.; Hampshire Country Club, 1025 Cove Road, Mamaroneck. $50. (914) 833-2434.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 18 ‘AN EVENING IN GOOD TASTE’

The Music Conservatory of Westchester welcomes jazz guitarists Gene Bertoncini and Ed Laub and jazz violinist Sara Caswell, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Shenorock Shore Club, 475 Stuyvesant Ave., Rye. $75.

(914) 761-3900, jazzbrunchmcw.eventbrite.com.

The Food Bank for Westchester tasting event includes a silent auction and food from 25 wellknown restaurants, 6 to 9 p.m.; 1133 Westchester Ave., White Plains. $200, $175 in advance. (914) 923-1100, foodbankforwestchester.org.

‘NOISES, SOUNDS AND SWEET AIRS’

CELBRATING THE PERFORMING ARTS

Music inspired by Shakespeare, 3 p.m.; Copland House at Merestead, 455 Byram Lake Road, Mount Kisco. $25, $20 Friends of Copland House, $10 students. (914) 788-4659, coplandhouse.org.

MONDAY OCTOBER 15 ‘A LOOK AT THE STATUS OF WOMEN’

The YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester examine challenges facing women’s advancement in 2012 at the organization’s annual meeting, 6:30 p.m.; YWCA, 515 North St., White Plains. (914) 949-6227, ext. 147, ywcawpcw.org.

A 40th anniversary gala for The Emelin Theatre, 6:30 p.m. cocktails, light fare and silent auction, 8 p.m. dessert, program, live auction and performance; Beach Point Club, 900 Rushmore Ave., Mamaroneck. $250. (914) 698-0098, emelin.org/gala.

‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE’

An annual benefit dinner and silent auction for Pace Women’s Justice Center, 6 to 7:30 p.m. cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and silent auction, 7:30 p.m. dinner and program; Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill, 81 Highland Ave., Tarrytown. $250. (914) 422-4396.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 21 ‘A NIGHT IN THE WOODS’

A benefit for Teatown Lake Reservation, 5 p.m. cocktails, 6:15 p.m. dinner and live auction; Sleepy Hollow Country Club, 777 Albany Post Road, Briarcliff Manor. $400. (914) 762-2912, teatown.org.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 25 ‘POWER OF THE PURSE’

A gala evening for Girls Inc. Westchester includes cocktails, a buffet dinner and auctions with designer handbags, 5:30 to 9 p.m.; Life: The Place to Be, 2 Lawrence St., Ardsley. (914) 419-0764.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 26 ‘RIPLEY LIVE’

Tony Award-winner Alice Ripley performs tunes from her recent albums to benefit the Music Conservatory of Westchester and the White Plains Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m.; White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place, White Plains. $75 (for first five center rows), $50, $30 students. (914) 328-1600, asidesmusic.com.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 THROUGH SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4 ‘CRAFTS AT PURCHASE’

Giuliana Rancic

A benefit for the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, featuring works from 100 jury-selected artists, 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; Performing Arts Center at Purchase, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase. $10.

(845) 331-7900, crafts@artrider.com.

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when&where A craft show for the discriminating shopper When the doors open for the 19th annual Westchester Fine Craft Show Oct. 12, discerning collectors – and enthusiastic shoppers – will find an array of couture fashion, jewelry, furniture and decorative accessories on display by more than 100 artisans from across the nation.

The juried showcase, which will run Oct. 12-14 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, will again spotlight the best of contemporary American art and design.

“We’re always looking for the best artists in the country,” says Elizabeth Kubie, director of Crafts America, the Greens Farms-based organization that presents the show.

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Works of art will represent a variety of media, including wood, metal, glass, paper, leather, decorative fibers, clay and ceramics.

The show, which has a strong local following, is known for presenting one-of-a-kind creations that reflect the finest technical skills, an unwavering quality of workmanship and a strong and original sense of design.

This year, a special “Meet the Artists Show Preview” will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 12. Proceeds from the sneak peek will benefit the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Program at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Tickets are

$40, with all proceeds going directly to the program.

The show will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 12; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 13; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14. Admission is $12, $11 for senior citizens and free for children under age 12. Please note: Payment on site is by cash only.

The County Center is at 198 Central Ave., off Tarrytown Road and the Bronx River Parkway. For complete details, including the purchase of benefit tickets, visit craftsamericashows.com or call (203) 254-0486.

– Mary Shustack

bank

dixon

gross

guglielmo

Kuppersmith

Marx

wit wonders: What does New York City mean to you?

“New York City is the greatest city in the world. Anything and everything is right outside your door. All you have to do is go out and enjoy.”

– Dr. David Bank The Center for Dermatology, Mount Kisco, Mount Kisco resident “It’s where I was born and raised. It was (is) the center of my universe, from Van Cortlandt Park (my backyard) to The Beacon Theatre, the 8th Street Playhouse (what a loss) to Morningside Heights. From __________ to __________: You fill in the blanks. The best of art, culture, sport, entertainment. A broad range of ethnic, racial and socioeconomic diversity that enriches the lives of all who spend anytime anywhere in the five boroughs. And it boasts the absolute best-tasting tap water on the planet.

I may be living and working in Connecticut, as I have for the past 20 years, but I am now and will forever be a ‘Noo Yawker.’”

– Troy Ellen Dixon Director, marketing and communications, Bruce Museum, Greenwich, Wilton resident “New York City, formally New Amsterdam, offers so many historical landmarks, architecture from many different periods (first structure in 1652, the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum), incessant cultural events, countless attractions, superlative entertainment and concerts, multiple major league sport venues, vast ethnic cuisines and vibrant night life until the wee hours of the morning. New York City is the melting pot of culture vultures, theater, arts, films, museums, comedy and music. What a metropolis to reside or vacation in.”

–Adria Goldman Gross CEO, MedWise Insurance Advocacy in Monroe, Monroe resident

children, received my high school and college degrees in the Bronx. Over the years, Manhattan also contributed to enriching my life. In addition to beginning my professional career in Manhattan, I spend a lot of my time there with my family, attending and planning cultural events for my service as president for the National Organization of Italian American Women in New York. My personal and professional life takes me around the world and I am ever so proud to respond when asked, ‘Where were you born?’ with “I was born in the Bronx.’”

– Kathleen L. Guglielmo Owner, Ease Into Italy & Beyond and director of business operations, Peter Gisolfi Associates L.L.P., Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington resident “New York City is the hub that influences the world we live in. I worked there for 10 years and now say it will leave its mark on you and shape you in wonderful ways with its pace and vibrancy. It is the place where the best of the best come to achieve and innovate.”

– Linda Kuppersmith President, CMIT Solutions, Stamford, Stamford resident “New York City means to me that I am suddenly living in 4-D. Everything is amplified and more intense and exciting – and delicious. I can eat in the dive-iest restaurant in the city and have a scrumptious meal. Somehow the food just tastes better. It means seeing more diversity and hearing more languages spoken than you ever knew existed.

In Manhattan, it means seeing more thin and fit people than anywhere else. Somehow the obesity statistics don’t apply when it comes to Manhattan. Finally, it means being a part of an endless carnival of sights, sounds and images that never fail to entice.”

– Wendy Marx President, Marx Communications, Trumbull, Trumbull resident

“In 2010, I was awarded the Andrettesse Community Leadership Award for my volunteer work in the ItalianAmerican community in New York. An important point that I wanted to make to the audience that evening was that I truly believe, ‘You are where you come from.’…

I was born in a hospital in the Bronx, as were my two

“To me New York City means freedom – the freedom to walk anywhere I want, at any time of day and find hidden treasures. There's always something new to discover on every street, in addition to visiting my old standbys such as my favorite coffee spot, bookstore, museum or

pasqueralle

sabido

rizzuto

shop. I love New York City and the way it makes me feel connected to the world.”

– Christine Pasqueralle Freelance writer; media co-chairperson, Junior League of Central Westchester, Hartsdale resident “New York City to me means culture, energy and movement.”

– Babe Rizzuto Owner, ROAM boutique, Greenwich, Purchase resident “When I’m in New York City, I’m touched by the humanity, with all of its variety, beauty and foibles. You might walk past 100 people in a single block and every one of them has an amazing story. And, every one of them is dealing with the same things – the stresses of life, wanting the best for loved ones, dealing with worries and fears and trying to enjoy life as much as possible. It’s a nice way to remember that even in a big city like New York, we all have so much in common. We’re all inextricably linked together.”

– Chris Sabido Co-founder, Emerge - Leadership Development, Tarrytown resident “New York City is all about the hustle and bustle. Whether people are traveling for business or pleasure, the history, opportunity and energy of New York City is unparalleled. LSW has been lucky in that we have been a part of so many people’s travel experiences when it comes to this place. Seeing our clients' eyes light up as they see the city is one of the best parts of our job.”

– Melissa Thornton CEO, LSW, Greenburg resident “Mayor Giuliani’s and Bloomberg’s terms in office have created a wonderful city. Growing up in the ’70s, New York City was a dreadful place. Now, rundown buildings have been replaced by beautiful, sprawling parks. It is scenic, safe and a pleasure to visit. I love New York City.”

– Rob Woodrow Woodrow Jewelers, Rye, Rye resident

thorton

woodrow

Compiled by Alissa Frey. Contact her at afrey@westfairinc.com.

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ABOUT new

york The Fashion District, also known as the New York Garment District, brings in billions of dollars of revenue per year, and is only stretched on a one square-mile radius.

The first New York Fashion Week, held in 1943, (which was called Press Week) was the first organized fashion week in the world. It was created to steer attention away from the French fashion during World War II.

The New York Public Library, which serves about 16 million patrons per year, has 88 miles of shelf space in its Humanities & Social Science Library and 40 miles under Bryant Park. From design to construction, this section of the library took 16 years to complete.

Top theater shows in 2011-2012 brought in the following: "Wicked", $91 million; "The Lion King," $87.9 million; "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark," $79 million; and "The Book of Mormon," $72.2 million.

2011: MTA New York City Transit data shows that weekday subway ridership was 5.3 million and annual ridership was 1.6 billion.

For those who hail a taxi, there are more than 50,000 vehicles and approximately 100,000 drivers regulated and licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

One of the busiest intersections in the city is at the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue with an average of 7,500 people frequenting it at any given hour.

Of the many attractions that draw tourists each year, is Central Park, which is spread across 843 total acres.

The ING New York City Marathon, which takes place through the city's five boroughs, had 46,795 official finishers – 29,867 men and 16,928 women in 2011 – making it one of the world’s largest running events.

78

Grand Central, one of the most widely frequented train stations, attracts more than 750,000 people daily, 1 million during the holidays and 21.6 million out-of-towners. It’s said that President Franklin D. Roosevelt used platform number 61, a “secret” underground track, to get to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

As immigrants from Europe arrived during the mid-nineteenth century, New York City drastically changed with the consolidation of five boroughs in 1898.

2011: New York City attracted 50.5 million visitors.

According to a Zagat survey, the average cost of a dinner in New York City is $43.46, including drink, tax and tip.

Manhattan’s Chinatown has the largest collection of Chinese residents in the Western Hemisphere.

While premier rooms at places like Hotel Plaza Athénée, The Peninsula-New York, and the Mandarin Oriental, can set a person back in the thousands, the average daily hotel room in New York City is priced at $290.

New York City has been a goto scene for Hollywood films; the Empire State Building, for example, was featured in more than 250 films, including “King Kong,” “An Affair to Remember,” and “Sleepless in Seattle,” just to name a few.

The Empire State Building rests on 79,288 square feet, approximately two acres. Nearly 10 million bricks were used to build the structure, 730 tons of aluminum and stainless steel and 57,000 tons of steel. Final construction fees topped in at $41 million.

With roughly 3,000 street vendors serving up cuisine in New York City, food trucks are not just part of the city’s culture – they are a taste-worthy option.

Zagat-rated food trucks include Nauti, lobster-roll cuisine, lukeslobster.com/ nauti; Coolhaus, gourmet hand-made ice cream sandwiches, eatcoolhaus.com; and Taim Mobile, a vegetarian Israeli truck, taimmobile.com.

Wall Street profits fell 72 percent in 2011, to $7.65 billion. 2011 securities industry bonuses still totaled $19.7 billion.

More than 25 percent of the world’s gold is located 80 feet beneath the Federal Reserve Bank on Wall Street.

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worthy MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL CENTERS MERCHANT’S HOUSE MUSEUM 29 E. Fourth St. New York, NY 10003 (212) 777-1089 merchantshouse.org

NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM 130 Livingston St., 10th floor Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 694-1600 mta.info/mta/museum

BROOKLYN MUSEUM 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11238 (718) 638-5000 brooklynmuseum.org AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM 2 Lincoln Square New York, NY 10023 (212) 595-9533 folkartmuseum.org AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 200 Central Park West New York, NY 10024 (212) 769-5100 amnh.org BARD GRADUATE CENTER 18 W. 86 St. New York, NY 10024 (212) 501-3000 bgc.bard.edu

NOBLE MARITIME COLLECTION 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building D Staten Island, NY 10301 (718) 447-6490 noblemaritime.org

BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS 1040 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY 10456 (718) 681-6000 bronxmuseum.org COOPER-HEWITT NATIONAL DESIGN MUSEUM 2 E. 91 St. New York, NY 10128 (212) 849-8400 cooperhewitt.org ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION MUSEUM Ellis Island New York, NY 10004 (212) 363-6307 ellisisland.org JACQUES MARCHAIS MUSEUM OF TIBETAN ART 338 Lighthouse Ave. Staten Island, NY 10306 (718) 987-3500 tibetanmuseum.org

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART 1000 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10028 (212) 535-7710 metmuseum.org MOUNT VERNON HOTEL MUSEUM AND GARDEN 421 E. 61 St. New York, NY 10065 (212) 838-6878 mvhm.org MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE 48 Wall St. New York, NY 10005 (212) 908-4110 moaf.org MUSEUM OF CHINESE IN AMERICA 215 Centre St. New York, NY 10013 (212) 619-4785 mocanyc.org MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 1220 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10029 (212) 534-1672 mcny.org

BROOKLYN BOTANICAL GARDENS 1000 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11225 (718) 623-7200 bbg.org

MUSEUM OF MODERN ART 11 W. 53 St. New York, NY 10019 (212) 708-9400 moma.org

THE JEWISH MUSEUM 1109 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10128 (212) 423-3200 thejewishmuseum.org 80

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, DOROTHY AND LEWIS B. CULLMAN CENTER 40 Lincoln Center Plaza New York, NY 10023 (917) 275-6975 nypl.org

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House 1 Bowling Green New York, NY 10004 (212) 514-3700 nmai.si.edu

A permanent exhibition at the Queens Museum is the Panorama of the City of New York.

QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART New York Avenue Flushing Meadows Corona Park Queens, NY 11368 (718) 592-9700 queensmuseum.org SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM 9 Battery Place New York, NY 10280 (212) 968-1961 skyscraper.org STATEN ISLAND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 1000 Richmond Terrace Staten Island, NY 10301 (718) 273-2060 statenislandkids.org STATEN ISLAND MUSEUM 75 Stuyvesant Place Staten Island, NY 10301 (718) 727-1135 statenislandmuseum.org TENEMENT MUSEUM 103 Orchard St. New York, NY 10002 (212) 982-8420 tenement.org WATERFRONT MUSEUM 290 Conover St. Brooklyn, NY 11231 (718) 624-4719, ext. 11 waterfrontmuseum.org

watch Fashionable fun

“Size Doesn’t Matter” was the motif of Bloomingdale’s “2012 Fall Fashion Show,” with our own Class & Sass, Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas, as emcees. Supermodel Emme, omniscient blogger Stacy Geisinger of Stacy Knows, Emmy-nominated actress Tonja Walker, public relations executive Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson, Ritz-Carlton marketing director Misty Moore, Miss Westchester Teen Jackie Groccia, Miss Westchester Teen’s Miss Congeniality Jordan Rose Decker and model-musician Anamaria Mirdita strutted their stuff in Eileen Fisher, All Saints, Tory Burch, Maximilian, BCBG Max Azria, Basler, Alice + Olivia and Gerard Darel. Paulo’s Atelier Hair Salon in Bedford Hills styled their coifs, while Bloomie’s Chanel handled the makeup and Bloomie’s personal shopper (and WAG alum) Sandy Hapoienu did the styling. The ladies proved that style comes in all ages and shapes. And we all learned a lot about peblum.

Photographs by Bob Rozycki

Adrianna Pappas and Skyler Handler

Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas

Jane Gould, Caroline Lewittes and Carol Schwartz

David Hochberg and Gisela Reis

Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson

Meryl Lefkowitz

Sandy Hapoienu

Michelle Holmes, Margie Barczy, Chrissa Skeadas and Susan Marocco

Rosanne Stravato and Justina Mirdita, Dorene Restaino Claudia Suica and Denise Batalla

Emme

Tonja Walker

Jackie Groccia

All photograph identifications are from left unless otherwise noted.

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watch Barbie’s world

The Estrada brothers were at it again with their 2012 Fashion Week show at 320 Studios, debuting their spring/summer 2013 collection inspired by Barbie. The collection featured bright, playful colors with fun patterns and textures that came to life on models wearing Barbie wigs. The night kicked off with the runway show and was followed by a party with drinks and a DJ. Photographs by SinĂŠad Deane.

Jesus Estrada and Brijraj Shumsher Thapa

Ness and Jas Rose

Ted Bachman and Sarah Pecker

Shaina Campbell

Ash Moss

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Alex Geerman

Paige Mobley

Christian Estrada

Valerie Vonprisk (make-up artist) styling the models

Paige Mobley and Louis Terilli

Shangela Debutantess

Antonio and Jesus Estrada

Kim and Kompany

The Kardashian sisters – Kim, Kourtney and Khloe – came to Yonkers to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their clothing line.

At Sears in the Cross County Shopping Center, where you’ll find the Kardashian Kollection, they were greeted by hundreds of screaming fans.

Photographs by Sinéad Deane.

Kardashian sisters

Darshanie and Amanda Sewah

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano

Jo-Ann Solazzo, Danielle Caggiano, and Baby (Dog)

Mary and Annelise Mirabal

Maria Andrea

Cindy Zendi and Mirjeta Shala

Cocktails at Tiffany’s

Hal Rubinstein, fashion director of InStyle, and John Truex, Tiffany’s vice president of leather accessories.

Cindy Weber-Cleary, fashion director of InStyle; Richard Lambertson Tiffany’s vice president of leather accessories; and Susan Kaufman, style director of People Style Watch.

Tiffany & Co. kicked off Fashion Week at its Fifth Avenue flagship store with a fall cocktail party to celebrate its latest leather collection. Fashion editors and friends stroked ostrich leather handbags and sipped Champagne and cocktails in the store’s leather salon. DJ duo AndrewAndrew spun hits from the early ’90s while photographers captured wellheeled guests enjoying hors d’oeuvres.

Jorden Bickham, accessories editor of Vogue and Rickie De Sole, senior accessories editor of Vogue

Photographs by Nicholas Hunt/PatrickMcMullan.

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watch Sparkling night

Woodrow Jewelers in Rye kept its doors open late in celebration of Fashion’s Night Out. Designer Antonio Cardamuro showcased his Mediterranean-inspired collection for guests. Attendees enjoyed Champagne and cake pops as they tried on jewels.

Maria Wienberg and Antonio Cardamuro

Stacy Poole of Rye

Robert Woodrow and Michael Woodrow

Playing for a cause

Giovanni Caruso

The Dreyfus Golf & Tennis Classic, recently held at the Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale, raised $225,000 for the Parent Transportation Program at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla. The program helps families with limited resources access transportation to the hospital to participate in medicalcare meetings, discharge planning and training related to their child’s care.

John Carter, Mike Richter, honorary event chair and former New York Rangers goalie; Hank Szala and Harry Engelman

Jill Haskel, Mike Richter, Victoria Richter and Hope Furth

Women on the move

The New York City-Southern New York Chapter of the National MS Society hosted the seventh annual Women on the Move luncheon at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. Presented by Acorda Therapeutics, the event featured a special Women and Men on the Move fashion show, with 24 models who have multiple sclerosis and an appreciative audience of 350. Clothing for the fashion show was provided by Bloomingdale’s of White Plains.

Former Westchester County legislator Martin Rogowsky and his wife, Tobi, member of the Women on the Move committee.

Allison Ripka, center, and friends.

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Robin Einbinder, president of the New York City-Southern New York Chapter of the National MS Society.

Dana Schwartz, vice president of operations at Zenith Media, and Marni Rothman, executive producer of TLC’s “Long Island Medium.”

A night of fashion and fun

Neiman Marcus in White Plains recently hosted Fashion’s Night Out, featuring beauty, tips and tricks, food, music and fashion. Stacy Geisinger, blogger of Stacyknows. com, helped kick off the event.

Beth Sharkey, store manager, Neiman Marcus, and Stacy Geisinger

Aurora Fowlkes

Deidre Michael

Julie Gerstenblatt

Rima Sayegh and Briggette Sayegh

Erica Breining, Stephanie Susnjara, Eve Marx and Christine White

Rebecca Stoppelmann

PERFUME IN THE AIR

Sue Phillips, the founder of Scenterprises, took an enthusiastic group on a fragrance journey Sept. 13 at Patricia Gourlay Fine Lingerie & Clothing in Greenwich. A fragrance-industry veteran based in Manhattan, who was featured in the September WAG, Phillips often visits Greenwich to conduct workshops that lead to the creation of a signature scent for each participant.

Photographs by Cheryl Gormley Pollack/ Pollack Photography.

Sue Phillips and Nancy McKittrick.

Laura McKittrick and Sue Phillips

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watch Fashions to ‘fall’ for

Harriet Mays Powell – owner of TheLookNow.com, former New York magazine editor and a Connecticut resident – offered her expert commentary for a runway show at The Westchester's Neiman Marcus. The show of fall fashions kicked off with a glamorous brunch and live music from a DJ on the top floor of the store. The sophisticated, fun trends were accompanied by insightful tips and a Q&A with Powell.

Photographs by Sinéad Deane.

Beth Sharkey and Harriet Mays Powell

Lisa Gentil and Michelle Mauboussin

Julia Sands, Lee Flanagan, Laurie Platek and Kerry Zochowski

Cindy Masters and Dreux Claiden

Maria Devaney and Liz Moley

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Amber Smith, Laura Peterson, Kristina Mataityte and Ksusha Goncharova

Lusyd Doolittle, Page Knox and Joan Mark

Margot Weinstein, Michelle Mauboussin, Susan Sanders and Maeve Zansky

Susanne D'Ariano and Loretta Rapisardi

Lisa and Alison Carter with Judy Donahue

Rania Hadchiti and Taryn McDonnell

Spotlighting awareness

Ainsworth Thompson and Emma Asante.

Linda Zuboff, NKF community development manager, Deb Hosking, administrative asst. of NKF and Elaine Orsini, NKF board chair.

Dr. William Hines and Mary Kate Carofano

Linda Koe and Bruce Koe with Lori and Bruce Skyer, CEO of NKF.

Dr. Joseph Vassalotti.

Caren, Bernard and Joshua Borkowski.

Poignancy was on the menu as doctors, members of The National Kidney Foundation Inc. and parents of children suffering from kidney disease gathered at L’escale Restaurant Bar in Greenwich. The reception featured speakers as well as candid conversations over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres to raise awareness of the disease and the foundation’s upcoming free screenings to test high-risk populations — Zoë Zellers

Betsy Daniels of Woodbury

Fra ns

ber gen

19TH ANNUAL

Drs. William Hines, Paul Wiener, Mitchell Fogel and Caren Borkowski.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER WHITE PLAINS, NY

Dr. Niranjan Sankaranarayanan and Marcia Hilditch, program manager of NKF.

Deb Hosking of NKF and Irene Corsaro.

•ART & DESIGN •FASHION •FURNISHINGS

CHARITY PREVIEW FRIDAY 8:30AM-11AM

Sinèad Blevio, volunteer, Mary Kate Carofano, director of state development, both from NKF.

Melissa Saul, Greater N.Y. director of development of NKF.

WESTCHESTERCRAFTSHOW.COM 87

class&sass We’re fortunate to live in an area that allows for quick getaways to amazing destinations. But I think you’d agree that Twin Farms in Vermont is one of the best couples’ destinations in all of New England. It’s perfect for any season, but I like winter because you’re pretty much guaranteed to see snow. I love the way we do it: We get four couples and book the Farmhouse, which has four incredibly luxurious (and soundproofed) suites, each with its own sitting areas and large, fully appointed bathrooms (think deep-soaking tubs with views, candles and bath salts), and a large communal living room (perfect for private dinners and playing games), with an outdoor hot tub and skating rink below where you can enjoy a bonfire and s’mores. The staff has thought of everything and will go to great lengths to make your wildest dreams become a reality. The place has its own private ski hill (perfect for those of us with bad knees who are tired of being wiped out by crazy snowboarders), which you can also choose to sled, cross-country ski or snowshoe around. After dinner you can walk across a bridge and hang out at the Pub, which has a selection of movies and a fully stocked bar and juke box. There is also an amazing spa and gym (which I cannot comment on since I’ve never stepped foot in it, because I’m generally totally wiped out from all the various activities (vertical and horizontal) and gourmet food.

Just looking back on our stay at J Twin Farms makes me smile. I don’t think that I have ever laughed as much as I did on that trip. It was a weekend packed full of wit, wisdom and wackiness. I mean really, what didn’t we do? We sang, sitting atop a piano at the bar in the Pub, dressed in full-on flapper attire (five hot toddies will do that to a person); skied, donning hats resembling various farm animals (mine was a fine-feathered chicken and I think you were a musk ox?); tried our best to play ice hockey on the tiny lake that had frozen over beneath the Farmhouse where we were staying (it was completely charming and a scene straight out of “Little Women”); then somehow ended up in cheerleader outfits with pompoms on our heads, while playing “The Newlywed Game.” And who could forget the “Human Bullet” – your husband racing down the hill on a sled at 90 miles per hour,

By Martha Handler and Jennifer Pappas

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stopping just shy of knocking us all down like a bunch of bowling pins. We were easy targets, I guess, just standing there watching him coming, mouths agape. I did forgive him for the scare eventually, after he hoisted me out of the snow that I had found myself submerged in, because I did not heed the warnings to stay on the hard-packed walkway. I must learn to listen to directions and not always take the path less traveled.

Speaking of great getaways, do you J remember the time we girls all stayed at the Tribeca Grand hotel in Manhattan?

It was my birthday (I love celebrating birthdays, especially mine; have you noticed?), and the manager asked if we wanted anything special for that evening. You were standing there, pondering, trying to come up with something unique. (The temptation to ask for a Chippendale’s dancer must have been overwhelming.) Finally, you settled on a fish. And they got you one. It was the strangest looking goldfish ever – jet black and huge, with big bulging eyes. It looked like it had a thyroid disorder.

Sometimes you’ve got be careful what you wish for! But as it turned out, I was thankful I had that fish to keep me company. After spending hours at the Brooklyn Bowl, listening to live music and throwing an increasing number of gutter balls (correlated directly to the number of drinks ingested), we all headed to the Boom Boom Room at The Standard Hotel, High Line around 1 a.m. Even though you’d secured us spots on the guest list, the bouncer (who was an egotistical control freak) still made us wait quite a while in the freezing snow. When we were finally allowed to enter, I realized I hadn’t brought my ID and without it, there was no chance the creep was going to let me in. So, I had no choice but to spend the rest of night with my adorable fish. (OK, in all honesty, being the lightweight that I am, I was totally zonked within 30 minutes). I think you were a bit miffed at me for not remembering my ID, but honestly, shouldn’t this be perhaps the one perk of being in your 50s? I guess I need to accept the fact that there are no benefits to being in your 50s – unless you count being a card-carrying

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member of AARP. remember that bouncer well. I’ve J Inever wanted to Taser someone so badly in my life.

Wag Up: • The New York Post iPad app. While it’s embarrassing to admit that I’m a fan, it is really a well-conceived app. (M) • “Bodies: The Exhibition” – where you can learn so many interesting facts about the human body. For instance, did you know that it’s impossible for a person to lick his own elbow? Try it. We all did. I’m sure that the exhibit has a hidden camera somewhere taking pictures of everyone trying to lick his elbow.

The curators will amass the footage and put us all in the next show. (J) Wag down: • The New York Times iPad app. It’s blurry, hard to maneuver around and the format is ill conceived. (M) • Those cursed doormen at clubs who make you wait to get in (trying to create some sort of illusion of exclusivity). Then half the time you actually do get in, you discover that the entire place is practically empty. It’s just so ’80s. (J)

Email Class&Sass at marthaandjen@wagmag.com. You may also follow Martha and Jen on Facebook at Wag Classandsass or access all of their conversations online at wagmag.com.

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Important Safety Considerations for the Restylane family of products The Restylane family of products includes Restylane,® Restylane-L,® Perlane,® and Perlane-L.® These products can be used individually to add volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds). Ask your healthcare professional which is right for you.

Products in the Restylane family should not be used by people with previous bad allergies, particularly to certain microorganisms known as gram-positive bacteria, or by people with previous bad allergies to drugs that have required in-hospital treatment. These products should not be used by people with bleeding disorders. Injections should not be made anywhere except the skin or just under the skin. Restylane-L and Perlane-L should not be used by people with a known allergy to lidocaine.

Use of products in the Restylane family at the site of skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infection should be postponed until healing is complete. Use of the products in these instances could delay healing or make your skin problems worse. After your treatment, you might have some swelling, redness, pain, bruising, and tenderness. This will normally last less than seven days. In rare circumstances, the doctor may inject into

a blood vessel, which can damage the skin. Although rare, red or swollen small bumps may occur. If you have had facial cold sores before, an injection can cause another outbreak. To avoid bruising and bleeding, you should not use the products if you have recently used drugs that thin your blood or prevent clotting. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 18 years, you should not use products in the Restylane family.

Patients should be limited to 6.0 mL per treatment. The safety or effectiveness of products in the Restylane family for the treatment of anatomic regions other than nasolabial folds have not been established in controlled clinical studies.

The Restylane family of products is available only through a licensed practitioner. Complete product and safety information is available at www.RestylaneUSA.com.

Restylane, Restylane-L, Perlane, and Perlane-L are registered trademarks of HA North American Sales AB. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

APB 11-016A 09/30/12

Our new White Plains location presents the most advanced Plastic Surgery Center in Westchester County offering: Breast Augmentation • Breast Lift • Breast Reduction • Breast Reconstruction • Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) • Liposuction • Eyelid Surgery • Facial Plastic Surgery •

Dr. Scott Newman was voted a Castle Connelly Top Doctor in New York for the past nine consecutive years. He is Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. John’s Riverside Hospital, is Academically Affiliated, and is the Medical Director for the Aesthetic Laser Group in White Plains.

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