APRIL 2013
AVENUE
APRIL 2013
THE HOLLYwOOD ISSUE
AVENUE ■
www.avenuemagazine.com
On THE ScEnE:
PEGGY SIEGAL on the most expensive Oscar race in history
10 YEARS LATER
bORn RIcH director Jamie Johnson sets the record straight
MIcK JAGGER’S
VOL. 37 NO. 4
KELLY RUTHERFORD
banker’s tell-all Actress Kelly Rutherford
REAL LIFE GOSSIP GIRL by Bob Morris
©2013 CHANEL® , Inc.
“CAMéLIA” RING WHITE GOLD AND DIAMONDS
733 MADISON AVENUE AT 64TH STREET 212.535.5828 800.550.0005 CHANEL.COM
The Apthorp Live in a Landmark “I have been enormously pleased with the level of service and quality of life at The Apthorp since I moved in 18 months ago.” —Steven Goldman, Attorney, and a former New Jersey state banking and insurance commissioner “My wife and I grew up in Manhattan and always dreamed of living in the Apthorp. Our expectations have been exceeded in every way.” —Dr. Eric Berkowitz “My family and I have been completely enchanted by life at the Apthorp. As long time Upper West Siders, we of course always knew the Apthorp, but could have never imagined what a wonderful place this is to live.” —Franco Finstad, Musician
The Apthorp is one of New York City’s true landmarks, treasured for its Italian Renaissance Revival architecture. With $25 million dollars in the capital improvements now complete, owners are experiencing the The Apthorp at its very best—meticulously restored and brought with care and grace into the 21st century. A host of services eases the transition between the bustle of the city and one’s private residence. From attended gatehouses and lobbies, to the newly completed 6,500 square foot amenity suite, The Apthorp caters to a wide range of needs. The health and fitness suite includes a private spa and fitness center. And right next door is the entertainment suite which features a bar, catering kitchen, integrated media and billiards. The Apthorp also has a thoughtfully designed children’s play room. A very limited selection of residences is available for purchase—a rare opportunity to live in a totally updated New York City landmark. One to Four Bedroom Condominiums from $2,150,000 to $8,450,000 Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group 212.799.2211 390 West End Avenue, New York, NY 10024 www.theapthorp.com Broadwall Consulting Services. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from the Sponsor. File No. CD-07-0555. Equal Housing Opportunity. Rendering by Neoscape.
letter from the editor
Dear Readers, Welcome to our Hollywood Issue. Although I adore our cover subject, Kelly Rutherford (more on her later), the true star of our Hollywood Issue is the inimitable Peggy Siegal. For the last seven issues of AVENUE, Peggy has been delivering the dish on the lead-up to Oscar night. Read her full Oscar diary for the lowdown on Anne Hathaway’s dress decision, Jessica Chastain’s new boyfriend and the real scoop on the Lincoln vs. Argo drama. Speaking of scoop, my Cocktail on the Avenue this month is with filmmaker Jamie Johnson. I can hardly believe it’s been 10 years since Born Rich made its debut on HBO, in 2003. Ten years ago, I found the film satirical and fun. Ten years later, I had a completely different experience watching Johnson’s documentary. During my first viewing, I was struck by how confident the characters appeared; ten years on; I could see their insecurities much more clearly. After a decade, Jamie shares his thoughts on what he would have changed back then and why this film could never be made today. Our cover star is Gossip Girl actress Kelly Rutherford, now a true Upper East Sider. She’s building a new life in New York, following a brutal custody decision and the end of Gossip Girl. In the way that life often imitates art, Kelly now lives a life similar to the one she portrayed on TV. As her friend Marjorie Gubelmann notes, in our interview with Bob Morris, Kelly’s now a part of the UES social set. We shot Kelly at the apotheosis of chic, The Mark hotel. The Mark has always been special to me because, after my boarding school exams, my mother would always whisk me away for a glamorous New York weekend of shows, shopping and restaurants. Even now, whenever I have the chance to visit, I feel giddily happy just to be in The Mark’s lobby. Last, we have a review of Prince Rupert Loewenstein’s memoir; A Prince among Stones, which looks back at the author’s career with Mick Jagger and the rest of the Rolling Stones. It’s full of amusing anecdotes, subtle barbs and some really interesting insights into what it’s like to manage one of the greatest rock bands in history. I devoured it in a weekend. You will too.
Editor
4 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
PRINCE: CARLOS RUIZ
Daisy Prince
From the “Plissé” collection, 18-karat yellow and white gold ring with diamonds. 4 3
W e s t
5 7 t h
G E N E V A
S t r e e t , •
N e w
Z U R I C H
Y o r k •
C i t y N E W
•
2 1 2 - 8 8 8 - 3 2 3 2 Y O R K
•
•
g i l b e r t a l b e r t . c o m
P A R I S
•
M O S C O W
letter from the president
Dear Readers,
President, Randi schatz
“From catwalks to red carpets, New Yorkers take a front row seat to it all.”
As the sAying goes, spring comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. While the other three seasons seem to creep in slowly, the descent of spring is far less subtle. the onset of this season is packed with all the excitement, style and enchantment of fashion weeks across the globe and the awards season. From catwalks to red carpets, new yorkers take a front row seat to it all. With that, i welcome you to our glitz and glamour-packed hollywood issue. here, our editor, Daisy Prince, takes you behind the most exclusive doors at the oscars, into new york Fashion Week’s front rows, and one-on-one with the beautiful, talented and newly-minted new yorker, Kelly Rutherford. With the April issue out of our hands and into yours, we at AVENUE have much to look forward to. the May issue covers one of new york’s most vibrant and treasured arenas—the art world. As with most things in our city, the art scene here is second to none thus making it an interesting and particularly beautiful subject to cover. in addition to our regular features, i am looking forward to artfully showcasing the finest jewelry and to paying homage to the movers and shakers of new york real estate with our annual jewelry and real estate photo shoots. though spring has only just begun, i am eagerly awaiting the summer for a very special reason. We are delighted to announce that in June, July and August we will be following our readers to the hamptons by introducing AVENUE on the Beach. We will have increased distribution in the hamptons, while continuing our regular distribution in the city. AVENUE and Dan’s Papers share the same ownership and this will make for a powerful combination and a seamless transition into the hamptons marketplace. AVENUE on the Beach will cover every aspect of the hamptons lifestyle—fashion and homes, the arts, families, parties and people and we will also bring you the latest from new york City as usual. enjoy spring in new york and all the wonderful elements that it brings along. Warm Regards,
President
6 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
JessiCA nAsh
Randi Schatz
We’re spreading our wings. And your choices. Experience XOJET’s newly expanded fleet of private jets. XOJET is all about choices. Enjoy more exceptional value from the private aviation provider that offers the largest floating charter fleet of light, mid-size, super-mid-size and heavy private jets. Now we’re giving you even more freedom to choose, like XOJET Preferred Access™, which lets you choose between fleet types—with no interchange fees. No wonder more travelers are choosing XOJET as the single source for all of their private aviation needs. Where will XOJET take you? The choice is yours. N E W
Light
E X P A N D E D
Mid
Super Mid
F L E E T
Heavy
For your next flight, call 1-866-289-4225 or visit www.xojet.com/avenue © 2013 XOJET is a registered trademark of XOJET Inc.
XCEPTIONAL PRIVATE AVIATION
AVENUE
APRIL 2013
VOL. 37 NO.4
40
this page and cover
FEATURES
Kelly Rutherford wears fine jewelry by Graff. White diamond line bracelet (21.14 cts); white round and pear-shape diamond lotus earrings (14.78 cts; white multi-shape diamond necklace (diamonds 36.38 cts); white round diamond ribbon-shaped brooch with pear and marquise diamonds (23.10 cts), available at Graff New York, 710 Madison Avenue, 212.355.9292
40
8 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
XoXo, GoSSip GiRl
Actress Kelly Rutherford opens up about building a new life in New York, following a high-profile custody battle and the end of Gossip Girl. She lets us in on her new Upper East Side lifestyle and talks about what she will do differently in her next relationship and why she feels right at home in the City.
by bob morris Photographs by carlos ruiz
7 3 7 P A R K A V E N U E
71st St.
PREWAR CONDOMINIUMS ON PARK AVENUE GRACIOUSLY TRANSFORMED TWO- TO FIVE- BEDROOM RESIDENCES PRICED FROM $4,450,000 TO OVER $30,000,000 NORTHEAST CORNER OF 71ST & PARK
212 545 7370
737PARKAVENUENYC.COM
Exclusive sales & marketing agent: Macklowe Properties Sales LLC. The complete terms are in an offering plan available from the Sponsor. File No. CD11-0149. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of US policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
AVENUE
APRIL 2013 54
FAshioN WEEk REtRospEctiVE
AVENUE’s resident fashionista Suzanne Weinstock Klein rounds up the most fabulous runways during the Fall/Winter 2013 collection presentations.
VOL. 37 NO.4
UNREAL EstAtE
32
A storied two-apartment combination in The Majestic has been renovated into a modern masterpiece and is ready for a new tenant.
by suzanne weinstock klein
58
WhAt thE bANkER sAW
German aristocrat Prince Rupert Loewenstein sounds like an unlikely banker for one of the biggest rock ‘n’ roll franchises, but he is just that. AVENUE takes a first peek at the prince’s upcoming tell-all.
review by john t. unger
60
by michael gross
cocktAiL oN thE AVENUE
36
Filmmaker Jamie Johnson reflects on his watershed project Born Rich over a beer with editor Daisy Prince.
by daisy prince
106
oFF to thE oscARs
The ubiquitous Peggy Siegal makes her annual westward migration to L.A. for the Acadamy Awards. Read her diary of all the behind-the-scenes happenings, the flurry of parties and events and, of course, those things that only Peggy would know.
hUDsoN YARDs AhEAD
Related Companies CEO Jeff T. Blau sits down with senior editor Haley Friedlich to discuss his own rise in the real estate business, as well as his company’s mounting successes. From the Time Warner Center to Hudson Yards, he gives his insights into Related’s city changing projects.
interview by haley friedlich
110
chRoNicLEs
There has been much to celebrate and Debbie Bancroft is on the scene for it all. She highlights an intimate celebration of Richard Mishaan’s new store, Homer and then heads off to the Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball.
by debbie bancroft
30
objEcts oF DEsiRE
Black and gold combine for Hollywood glamour and staying New York sleek and chic.
by casey brooks
10 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
sociAL sAFARi
It’s spring break for royals and socialites in Aspen and Courchevel.
by r. couri hay
112
WoRLD AccoRDiNg to . . .
Mega-producer and TriBeCa film festival cofounder Jane Rosenthal lets us into her New York world.
Introduction by charlotte ross
DEpARtMENts 15
oN thE AVENUE
24
ARts cALENDAR
coLUMNs 24
Composer, author and all-around Renaissance woman woman Karen LeFrak outlines her inspirational travels to St. Petersburg.
Introduction by haley friedlich
by peggy siegal
72
postcARDs FRoM . . .
The best parties from the past month, from the final winter soirées, to a dinner across the pond, the fashionable set turning out for amfAR and more. A look at what’s on view at auction houses, galleries and museums this month.
AVENUE online
For the latest on people and parties, visit www.avenuemagazine.com.
letters to the editor
AVENUE welcomes “Letters to the Editor” Please address to: Editor Daisy Prince 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY 10016 dprince@manhattanmedia.com
RESPONSIBLY GREEN, ELEGANTLY GLENWOOD MAGNIFICENT LARGE 2 AND 3 BEDROOM RESIDENCES
NO FEE LUXURY MANHATTAN RENTALS Near the Finest NYC Public and Private Schools • Unparalleled Service • Fitness Center Children's Playroom and Swimming Pool • 24-Hour Doorman • Magnificent Lobbies • Landscaped Gardens Exciting City Views • Spacious Layouts • Building-Wide Water Filtration System • On-Site Parking Garage
UPTOWN 212.535.0500
DOWNTOWN 212.430.5900
Open 7 days, 10AM–6PM / Free parking while viewing apartments
Equal Housing Opportunity.
BUILDER | OWNER | MANAGER
GlenwoodNYC.com
COMING IN
AVENUE’s MAY ISSUE
Dominique Lévy One of the most celebrated figures in the art world graces our Art Issue cover. Lévy truly runs the full gamut: She is connoisseur, collector, advisor and gallerist. Adding to her accolades, Dominique Lévy Gallery will open this year in a historic landmark building on 73rd and Madison Avenue.
Art World A-List The most important power players in the art world are highlighted here.
Meet FAPE The Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies is making cultural diplomacy a priority.
Cocktail on the AVENUE Amanda Sharp, co-founder of Frieze Art Fair talks about bringing this cultural gem to Randall’s Island, over cocktails with editor Daisy Prince.
AVENUE OCTOBER 2012
MRS. NFL SUZANNE JOHNSON kicks off the season
The Art of Jewelry Selections from the most esteemed fine jewelry houses take center stage in our annual
AVENUE
heart of New York real estate.
212
AVENUE on the Beach Preview
COLLECTORS BEWARE
jewelery feature.
Real Estate Elite Get to know the distinguished individuals at the
As we anticipate the June launch of AVENUE on the Beach, we can’t help but look ahead at the forthcoming Hamptons season. A breakdown of the parties we can’t wait for and the places you will want to be seen this summer.
12 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
ANNUAL A-LIST
people you should know now
The art scandal rocking the Upper East Side
Suzanne Johnson, brand ambassador for NFL for women
paulshark.it
MADISON AVE. (at 61st) - AVENTURA MALL - RODEO DRIVE
AVENUE PRESIDENT Randi Schatz rschatz@manhattanmedia.com EDIToR Daisy Prince dprince@manhattanmedia.com ART DIREcToR Jessica Ju-Hyun Lee Ho jlee@manhattanmedia.com SENIoR EDIToR Haley Friedlich hfriedlich@manhattanmedia.com MANAgINg EDIToR Charlotte Ross cross@manhattanmedia.com REAl ESTATE EDIToR Michael Gross mgross@manhattanmedia.com coNTRIbuTINg WRITERS Debbie Bancroft ■
Peggy Siegal
■
Lacey Tisch-Sidney
■
■
Janet Allon
Melissa Berkelhammer ■
R. Couri Hay
■
Suzanne Weinstock Klein
coNTRIbuTINg fASHIoN EDIToRS Casey Brooks
■
■
Nandini D’Souza Wolfe
Alexandria Symonds
■
■
Hilary Potkewitz
Rory McDonough
PAlM bEAcH EDIToR Christine K. Schott coNTRIbuTINg PHoTogRAPHERS Ben Fink Shapiro Jessica Nash
■
Patrick McMullan
■
■
Billy Farrell
■
Carlos Ruiz
Tiffany Walling McGarity & John McGarity
PRoDucTIoN MANAgER Heather Mulcahey hmulcahey@manhattanmedia.com ADvERTISINg DESIgNER Charles Flores cflores@manhattanmedia.com coPy EDIToR Joan Oleck INTERNS Steph Doan
■
Ting Lu
PublISHER, AvENuE oN THE bEAcH Mark Drucker mdrucker@manhattanmedia.com ASSocIATE PublISHER Susan Feinman sfeinman@manhattanmedia.com EXEcuTIvE SAlES DIREcToR Maritza Smith msmith@manhattanmedia.com SHoW DIREcToR, THE AvENuE SHoWS Barbara Goodwin bgoodwin@manhattanmedia.com SPEcIAl PRojEcTS DIREcToR Alex Schweitzer aschweitzer@manhattanmedia.com coRPoRATE SAlES DIREcToR Seth L. Miller smiller@manhattanmedia.com floRIDA REgIoNAl PublISHERS Maria Lourdes Gallo
■
Rosemary Winters
SAlES AND MARkETINg cooRDINAToR Kieara Nunez knunez@manhattanmedia.com coNTRollER Shawn Scott sscott@manhattanmedia.com AccouNTS MANAgER Kathy Pollyea kpollyea@manhattanmedia.com cIRculATIoN MANAgER Aaron Pollard apollard@manhattanmedia.com |
manhattan media |
cHAIRMAN of THE boARD Richard Burns rburns@manhattanmedia.com PRESIDENT/cHIEf EXEcuTIvE offIcER Tom Allon tallon@manhattanmedia.com cHIEf oPERATINg offIcER Joanne Harras jharras@manhattanmedia.com DIREcToR of DIgITAl Vinny DiDonato vdidonato@manhattanmedia.com
Avenue Media, LLC 79 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016 Subscriptions are $100 in U.S., $150 overseas Tel: 212.268.8600 Fax: 212.268.0577 E-mail: avenue@manhattanmedia.com www.avenuemagazine.com
Member of:
14 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
The Board of Trustees of the New York School of Interior Design Patricia M. Sovern, Chairman
David Sprouls, President
and
Alexa Hampton Benefit Chairman Request the pleasure of your company at a benefit dinner honoring
Geoffrey Bradfield Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award and
Laurie D. Olin Thomas N. Armstrong III Award in Landscape Design Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Asia Society 725 Park Avenue, New York City Cocktails at 7:00 pm Dinner at 8:00 pm Cocktail Attire Note: Seating is limited. Please reply by April 16, 2013
Benefit Committee
SpringBenefit
Amory Armstrong Bunty Armstrong Geoffrey N. Bradfield Mario Buatta Elaine Wingate Conway Allison Russell Davis Jill and Daniel Dienst Craig M. Dix S. Donadic Inc James Druckman, New York Design Center Ross Francis Marilyn and Lawrence Friedland Lois Avery Gaeta Ms. Sondra Gilman and Mr. Celso Gonzalez-Falla Penny Grant, MD Susan Zises Green Elliot and Janet Greene Agnes Gund Alexa Hampton Michael D. Harold Inge Heckel Gerry Holbrook Mr. and Mrs. George Kaufman Jodie W. King Terry Kleinberg Elizabeth Gray Kogen
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Kolb Anne Korman Kravet Inc. Lalique Margo Langenberg Ruth Lynford Brian J. McCarthy, Inc. Dennis Miller Dr. Salvatore Moltisanti and Mr. Michael Yasenak Susan B. Nagle and Peter Bentel Ethel Rompilla Betsey and William Ruprecht Stephen Salny David Scott Dr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Sculco Jean and Martin Shafiroff The Shubert Organization Hunt Slonem Donna and Richard Soloway Patricia and Michael I. Sovern David Sprouls and Kate Wood Barbara Tober Mrs. Monique van Vooren and Mr. Gregory Kan Baroness von Langendorff List in Formation
Individual tickets are available at $750 - Friend • $1,500 - Supporter Tables of 10 can be purchased for $7,500 - Benefactor • $15,000 - Connoisseur $25,000 - Patron For further information, please contact Elizabeth Gray Kogen at (212) 452-4197 or ekogen@nysid.edu www.nysid.edu
I n s p i re d b y y o u …
www.NeumansKitchen.com
2 0 3 C h r y s t i e S t r e e t • N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 0 2 • 2 1 2 . 2 2 8 . 2 4 4 4
WILL RAGOZZINO/BFANYC.COM
On the
AVENUE Models Hilary Rhoda and Coco Rocha at the Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball, held at The Pierre hotel.
on the avenue
Tory Burch
BELLES OF THE BALL
One of the year’s biggest museum parties attracts New York’s chicest for dinner and dancing
T Annabelle Fowlkes and Burwell Schorr
his year, the Museum of the City of New York’s Winter Ball moved a mere two blocks up Fifth Avenue—from The Plaza to The Pierre hotel. Carolina Herrera gowns swept the floor, in a nod to the evening’s sponsor, as guests, including Allison Rockefeller, Gigi Mortimer and Jamee Gregory, enjoyed light conversation during the pre-dinner cocktail hour. Mark Gilbertson, chairman of the well-attended evening, charmed partygoers as he thanked his fellow chairmen, who included Celerie Kemble and Nicole Mellon as well as prize donors like designer Eric Javits. Model Hilary Rhoda stole the show, literally, with fur hugging her shoulders as she posed alongside Coco Rocha, while guests, including Dennis Basso, made their way to the dance floor, shimmying late into the evening.
Jamie Tisch and Bronson van Wyck
SYLvAIN GABOuRY/PATRICKMCMuLLAN.COM AND WILL RAGOzzINO/BFANYC.COM
Jennifer Creel, Helen Lee Schifter and Marco Scarani
Mark GIlbertson and Carolina Herrera Claude Shaw and Lara Meiland Shaw
LONDON CALLING
New Yorkers venture across the Pond for a postshow dinner honoring designer L’Wren Scott
Emilie Rubinfeld, Chloe Malle and Rory Hermelee
Ronnie Wood and Sally Humphreys
A Mick Jagger and L'Wren Scott
Portia Freeman and Pete Denton
fter viewing the debut of L’Wren Scott’s new collection at London Fashion Week, which included a lamb shank dinner, guests headed to the legendary Café Royal hotel to join the designer and her longtime beau, Mick Jagger, for celebratory drinks and light fare. Attendees, including Daphne Guinness, John Demsey and Suzy Menkes, sipped bespoke cocktails and took in the opulent décor of the landmark hotel’s Pompadour Suite, which happened to mirror the gold leaf-embellished designs Scott showed in her collection, designs inspired by artist Gustav Klimt. The Regent Street reception also drew fellow Stones bandmate Ronnie Wood and his new wife Sally Humphreys, as well as Bobbi Brown, who had provided the beauty looks for the rocking runway show earlier in the day.
Tom Hooper
BILLY FARRELL/BFANYC.COM
Bryan Adams
Mary Charteris and Robbie Furze Alice and Jack Eve
CITY OF HOPE E A ST E N D C H A P T E R | J E A N N E K AY E L E AG U E
2013
AWA R D L U N C H E O N & FA S H I O N S H O W
TU E S DAY, MAY 7, 20 13 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HONOREES
CA RMEN MARC VALVO Fashion Designer Carmen Marc Valvo
DR . GEORGIA WITK I N Assist. Professor of Psychiatry, OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences Mount Sinai Hospital THE PLAZA HOTEL New York
Fashion Show Presented by Carmen Marc Valvo Lanc么me is a Proud Luncheon Sponsor For more information, please contact Michele DiVeterano at 800-344-8169, mdiveterano@coh.org
City of Hope is transforming the future of health. Every day we turn science into practical benefit. We turn hope into reality. We accomplish this through exquisite care, innovative research, and vital education focused on eliminating cancer and diabetes.
on the avenue
STATE OF THE ART
vito Schnabel unveils his White Collar Crimes exhibit
Jacqueline Reyes and Joshua Duksin
U
ptown and downtown art enthusiasts brushed shoulders in celebration of Vito Schnabel's show White Collar Crimes at the Acquavella Galleries—with nary a wine glass in sight. The well-heeled crowd’s willingness to forgo the usual pre-dinner cocktail served as a testament to the skill with which Schnabel can put together a show. Fellow art purveyors, including Jeff Koons, Mario Sorrenti, Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld and Chloe Crespi, joined the Acquavella clan at the Upper East Side fête. Also spotted in the crowd were Vogue’s Valerie Boster as well as Lyor Cohen, John McEnroe, Andres Santo Domingo and many more enjoying the success of one of the art world’s brightest young stars.
Leelee Sobieski and Megan Lang
MATTEO PRANDONI/BFANYC.COM
Dasha Zhukova
Vito Schnabel and Rashid Johnson
Sims Lansing, Mollie Ruprecht and Heidi Bitter
Alexander Acquavella
Allison Rubler and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn
Daniel Laub and Michelle Flesh
Selby Drummond, Matthew Doull and Giulia Carrozzino
LADIES WHO LUNCH
The 5th Annual Associates Luncheon raises funds for Sloan-Kettering pediatric care
G Allison Aston and Arianna Boardman
Eleanor Ylvisaker and Charlotte Ronson
uests made their way through a forest of shoes to gather at Saks Fifth Avenue's Café SFA on Eight, escaping the snow that day. Lauren Santo Domingo and Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler donned their daytime best while mingling with The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center president Dr. Annette U. Rickel among other attendees. The luncheon raised over $110,000 in support of MSKCC’s Pediatric Family Housing Endowment, a fund that covers the cost of overnight stays for children in need and their families traveling from out of town for treatment. Veronica Swanson Beard posed alongside committee chairwoman Shoshanna Gruss, who spoke at the event, while attendees such as Arianna Boardman and Allison Aston bonded over the charitable cause. CLINT SPALDING/PATRICKMCMuLLAN.COM
Kimberly Kravis Schulhof and Ferebee Taube Lisa Blau, Melissa Meister and Erica Silverman
Suzie Aijala, Angela Clofine and Shannon Henderson
Bara Tisch, Veronica Swanson Beard and Shoshanna Gruss
WHAT’S So WRoNG WITH
FA L L I N G I N L o V E WITH YoUR PATIENT?
It’s trust. It’s a familiar face. It’s a vet who treats you and your pet like family. That’s the comfort of the Animal Hospitals at Bideawee. State-of-the-art facilities and highly trained veterinarians are part of the services and support we bring to help pets and the people who love them build lasting relationships. Get to know our animal hospitals, and all we offer at bideawee.org or call 1.866.262.8133.
bideawee.org
animal people for people who love animals ® Manhattan · Westhampton · 866.262.8133
on the avenue
MUSEUM MASQUERADE
The Jewish Museum hosts its annual Purim Ball
B Richard, Chris, Phyllis and William Mack
David and Lisa Klein Lena Dunham
alloons filled the air while crowns, tiaras and masks greeted guests at the doors of the Park Avenue Armory, in a nod to the gala’s theme ("Who Wears the Crown?") this year. Honoree James Rosenquist spoke, while Girls writer-actress-producer (and triple threat) Lena Dunham delivered the evening’s Purim spiel. Drawing upon the writing style of Kay Thompson and the voice of Eloise, Dunham spoke from the perspective of a 6-year-old version of herself. Each time the starlet mentioned the name of the Purim story's evil Haman, Jewish Museum director Cynthia Gould danced on stage with Laurie Simmons (Dunham’s mother) while guests, including Caroline Kennedy, eagerly blew Purim groggers, or noisemakers. Yvonne Force Villareal and Bill Goldston enjoyed a decadent desert spread, with toffee sheet-chocolate and more, before continuing on to the evening's after-party. CLINT SPALDING/PATRICKMCMuLLAN.COM
Matthew Bronfman and Debbie Wish
James Rosenquist, Claudia Gould and Robert Benmosche
Thomé Nicocelli
Lisa Perry
Caroline Sieber
Michael Strahan and Nicole Murphy
Kenneth Cole and Sarah Jessica Parker Lydia Hearst
Patricia Clarkson and Michael Kors
PHILANTHROPY FÊTE
New York’s Annual amfAR Gala kicks off Fashion Week
C Poppy Delevingne and Alexa Chung
Heidi Klum and Cheyenne Jackson
ipriani Club 55 on Wall Street opened its doors for a star-studded soirée in support of amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, attracting philanthropists and PYTs alike. With the help of Heidi Klum and Michael Kors, Mayor Michael Bloomberg cut the red ribbon to commence New York Fashion Week. New York notables, including Woody Allen, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lydia Hearst, mingled with models and industry insiders like Carol Alt, Donna Karan and event co-chair Carine Roitfeld. Hollywood A-listers, including Chloë Sevigny and Cuba Gooding, Jr., shimmied to music by CeeLo Green and Santigold, while actor and Broadway star Alan Cumming gave a surprise musical performance later in the evening. The gala raised over $2.3 million toward life-saving research initiatives to end the global epidemic. CLINT SPALDING/PATRICKMCMuLLAN.COM
www.live4life.org
Live4Life is committed to
funding research to find an effective treatment and cure for melanoma
What You Can Do to Prevent Melanoma: 1. Get regular body checks by a dermatologist 2. Limit sun exposure between the hours of 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Live4Life is a non-profit organization
that benefits research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Live4Life funds have helped researchers forge the most significant advances in melanoma treatment in recent history.
Did You Know? • Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.
3. Always use sunscreen with a high SPF 4. Know your family history To find out more about melanoma and our work please visit
www.live4life.org We need your support, make a tax deductible donation today and help us continue our fight to find a cure.
• Each year close to 80,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with melanoma. • In 2012 there were more than 9,000 melanoma deaths in the United States. • The incidence levels of melanoma are increasing faster than any other cancer.
Give a Gift that Gives Back emma&me supports the Live4Life Foundation. Please go to www.emmaandme.com
to buy a gift that gives back. Remind everyone in your life that you love to be smart about the sun. Sunburns are not sexy.
Please Join the Live4Life Foundation to
celebrate melanoma awareness month Thursday, May 2nd, 12:00pm–5:00pm Shop for beautiful jewelry that gives back, and meet celebrity dietitian and creator of the F-Factor Diet, Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD Drinks and F-Factor approved lite bites will be served
960 Park Avenue Apt 3w
for questions email RSVP@Live4Life.org
chronicles
by
DEBBIE BANCROFT
Dennis Basso and Jamie Creel
Richard Mishaan and Caroline Dean
Tiffany Dubin and Richard Mishaan
Nicole Miller and Richard Mishaan
Patricia Duff and Marcia Mishaan
Bettina Zilkha, Richard Mishaan and Claude Wasserstein
Hamish Bowles and Richard Mishaan
Alec Baldwin and Richard Mishaan
An Ode to Homer
W
hat a pleasure to celebrate a good pal’s good fortune (and exceptional style and creativity), sans press releases or the strident demands of publicists. Richard Mishaan, or Ricky (as only I can call him— don’t try this at home, or anywhere) is known as a brilliant designer: first of apparel, then architecture, and finally interior design. He’s also a generous supporter of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, the New York Stem Cell Foundation and The Child Mind Institute, as well as the consummate host (he and his lovely wife Marcia throw the best 24 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
summer parties—think burlesque dens, to discos, to casbahs), and a great dad, son, and pal. From all these worlds we converged on University Place here in New York to hail his newest venture: Homer, an über-chic home-décor boutique offering Richard’s “couture furniture” collection and an array of elegant home pieces. Even Alec Baldwin came by, pooch in tow. Baldwin had sent Richard a tweet “Welcome to the neighborhood!” Sadly for Alec, his tweeted life was about to become not-so-tweet. But at this point, he was happy to congratulate Richard and tell us how excited he was for his and
PATRICK MCMULLAN
Richard Mishaan treats his friends to cocktails and a seated dinner to celebrate the opening of his downtown boutique, Homer, and we celebrate the Museum of the City of New York.
College offers a first-rate, personal “ Marymount education inManhattan one of the world’s most exciting cities. ” —Dr. Judson R. Shaver, President
Visit us at www.mmm.edu or call 1- 800 -MARYMOUNT
chronicles
Alex Bolen and Eliza Reed Bolen
Mark Gilbertson and Jamie Tisch
Shafi Roepers and Lisa Frelinghuysen
Carolina Herrera Thom Filicia and Gigi Mortimer
26 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
“Weddings should be this carefully organized, and our families should care for us as much as Mark cares for this event.” York’s Winter Ball at The Pierre. Weddings should be this carefully organized, and our families should care for us as much as Mark cares for this event. Trust me, if he actually wants you there, you had best go. And you’ll be happy you did. This year marked the party’s 38th anniversary. “The tickets were $45 then,” Mark told us. “Now it costs that much to get to and from here!” What amazed me was how he could seat his 150 or so pals, among the total of 450, so that everyone—the loved and the not so loved—all felt that they had the best darned seat among their peers.
PATRICK MCMULLAN
wife Hilaria Baldwin’s baby’s arrival this August (note to Richard: Stock silver rattles). Penthouse neighbors Jay McInerney and Anne Hearst also were on hand, to say, “Thanks for subsidizing our maintenance.” We lucky 60 guests crossed the street to Il Cantinori, and tucked in for a delicious dinner (my perfect dinner partner Andrew Roosevelt and I struggled to choose, so compelling were the menu choices). Marcia toasted Richard (a first in 28 years of marriage), and told him, “You have always recognized what is special before its time, and appreciated beauty,” to which he responded, “I must know something about what’s both special and beautiful, having fallen in love with you 28 years ago, and to this day.” Sigh. Richard also said we were the 60 people he loved most. Adoring guests included shelter royals—Elle Décor’s Michael Boodro, Architectural Digest’s Robert Rufino, Hearst Design Group’s Newell Turner and Veranda’s Dara Caponigro, and people who live in homes those publications feature, including Dana and Doug Taylor, Jamie Creel and Marco Scarani, Tiffany Dubin, Gary Cohn and Lisa PevaroffCohn, Claude Wasserstein, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Jill Roosevelt, Dennis Basso and Michael Cominotto, Nicole Miller and Kim Taipale, Avi Mortimer, Anne Keating and Wendi Sturgis. No slouch in the adoration department, Mark Gilbertson expertly and elegantly executed the 38th Annual Museum of the City of New
chronicles Allison Kanders, Ashley McDermott and Sara Ayres
Neuberger Museum of Art presents:
Pre-Columbian Remix the art of enrique chagoya, demián f lores, rubén ortiz-torres, and nadín ospina Opening Reception: Sunday, April 28, 1–4 pm Music, hors d’oeuvres, tours. Free admission. April 28–July 14, 2013 Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase College 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, New York 914 251–6100 www.neuberger.org
Deborah Norville and Karl Wellner
He gave me one tip, “I use long tables. It’s easier to blend different groups when you have 50 seats to work with. At least people can see the people they might like to be next to.” And it all worked. Carolina Herrera sponsored and dressed a few lovelies, like Tara Rockefeller, Jamie Tisch and Herrera’s daughter, Patricia Lansing. Others, like Eliza Bolen, Caroline Dean, Sara Ayers, Rachel Hovnanian, Amy Hoadley, Judith Guest and Elisabeth de Kergorlay looked great in their own frocks. And the gentlemen, especially those who filled the seats of traveling hubbies, and those next to the single ladies, were especially appreciated. What would we do without Jeff Sharp, Doug Steinbrech, Thom Filicia and Greg Calejo, Eric Javits and Edmundo Huerta? And we can’t forget Richard Farley, who put out the votive-fueled fire on Patricia Duff’s possum wrap (her words). I knew I smelled something burning as I entered, and hoped it wasn’t a friend’s, well, anything important. Oh, well. That girl is on fire. ✦
Nadín Ospina, Casa de Xolotl,2005, stone, 26.8 inches high. Courtesy the artist.
PATRICK MCMULLAN
Lauren and Ted Duff
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 27
arts calendar
Feasting the Eyes This month’s selection of art and antiques on view or for sale
AUCTIONS BONHAMS NEW YORK Apr. 29: Whiskey 580 Madison Avenue 212.644.9001 CHRISTIE’S Apr. 2-3: Christie's Interiors Apr. 9-10: Books & Manuscripts Apr. 24: Private & Iconic Collection 20 Rockefeller Plaza 212.636.2000
JONATHAN LEVINE GALLERY Josh Agle (SHAG) Jim Houser Apr. 6- May 4 529 W. 20th Street 212.243.3822 MATTHEW MARKS GALLERY Darren Almond: Hemispheres and Continents Luigi Ghirri: Kodachrome Through Apr. 19 522 W. 22 Street 212.243.0200
GALLERIES ALEXANDRE GALLERY Anne Harris: New Paintings Apr. 4 -May 11 41 E. 57th Street 212.755.2828 GAGOSIAN GALLERY Jean-Michel Basquiat Through Apr.6 555 W. 24th Street 212.741.1111 Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Gagosian Gallery
28 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Claes Oldenburg: The Street and The Store Apr.14–Aug. 5 The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art Exhibition Gallery, sixth floor 11 W. 53rd Street 212.708.9400 THE NEUBERGER MUSEUM OF ART Pre-Columbian Remix: The Art of Enrique Chagoya, Demián Flores, Rubén OrtizTorres and Nadín Ospina Apr. 28—Jul. 14 735 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, NY 10577 914.251.6100
DOYLE NEW YORK Apr. 8: Street Art Apr. 15: Important Estate Jewelry Apr. 29: Coins, Bank Notes & Postage Stamps 175 E. 87th Street 212.427.2730 SOTHEBYS Apr. 5: Photographs Apr. 11: American Paintings, Drawings & Sculpture Apr. 17-18: Magnificent Jewels 1334 York Avenue 212.606.7000
Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary at the Museum of Art and Design
James Turrell at The Pace Gallery
THE PACE GALLERY James Turrell Through Apr. 20 32 E. 57th Street 212.421.3292 Zhang Xiaogang Through Apr. 27 510 W. 25th Street 212.255.4044
THE NEW MUSEUM NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star Nari Ward: Amazing Grace Through Apr.21 235 Bowery 212.219.1222 THE WHITNEY MUSEUM Blues for Smoke Through Apr. 28 945 Madison Avenue 212.570.3600 ✦
EXHIBITIONS METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART The Path of Nature: French Paintings from the Wheelock Whitney Collection, 1785–1850 Through Apr. 21 1000 5th Avenue 212.535.7710 MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Craft and Design Through Jun. 16 2 Columbus Circle 212.299.7777
Blues for Smoke at The Whitney Museum
objects of desire
by
CASEY BROOKS
Paradox Minaudiere Purse by EDDIE BORGO, $6,500. Available at eddieborgo.com
Oxidized Sterling Silver, 18k Yellow Gold, White Diamond Earrings by MORITZ GLIK, $10,000. Available at Fragments, NYC, 212.334.9588
THE GOLDEN TOUCH Channeling the Hollywood glamour within, dip your New York black in gorgeous gold. Add elegance and edge to spring’s top looks with the timeless combination of black and gold. Embossed surfaces, smooth metals, decadent details and, of course, diamonds all complement this trend to deliver both fun and flattering pieces. You’ll shine like you just won the little gold statue.
Onyx and Black Diamonds Hammered Rock Ring by YAEL SONIA, $3,500. Available at Yael Sonia Fine Jewelry New York by appointment, NYC, 212.472.6488
Scarlet Satin Beaded Evening Dress by RALPH LAUREN, $4,998. Available at select Ralph Lauren Stores or ralphlaurencollection.com
Baroque Cuff in 18K White and Yellow Gold, Onyx and Diamonds by CHANEL, $31,500. Available at Chanel Fine Jewelry, NYC, 212.535.5828
Brass, 24K Gold, Enamel Leopard Coasters by L’OBJET, set of four, $145. Available at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC, 212.753.7300
Pelle Kiss Cuffs by IPPOLITA, $20,000 (large) and $10,000 (small). Available at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC, 212.753.7300
Limoges Porcelain Crocodile Square Tray with 24K Gold Details by L’OBJET, $85. Available at Bergdorf Goodman, NYC, 212.753.7300 30 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Parisienne sandal by CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA, $795. Available at Charlotte Olympia. NYC, 212.744.1842
We bring luxury beauty services to your doorstep.
makeup
•
hair
•
nails
•
bridal beauty
•
mens grooming and more..
www.damalinyc.com • Concierge 212.604.4441
unreal estate
by
MICHAEL GROSS
Majestic Mash-Up
A two-apartment combination at The Majestic has majestic views of The Dakota and Central Park
The living/dining room (above), the floor plan, and The Majestic’s Central Park West entrance EAST - DIRECT CENTRAL PARK VIEWS
FP
OFFICE 11'3" X 7'
LIBRARY 27'3" X 16'3"
CL.
M.
SERV. FITTED DRESSING ROOM
TERRACE 44' X 5'
G
MASTER BATH 19'8" X 17'8"
SERV.
STAIRWELL
DW
BOUDOIR / DRESSING ROOM 21' X 9'
DW MEDIA R
VANITY
CL.
R
WEST
MEDIA / BEDROOM 16'0" X 14'0"
CL. MECH
SETTEE CL.
CL.
BEDROOM 15'6" X 10'9" BEDROOM 13'3" X 11'3" TERRACE 35' X 6'6"
NORTH
PASS. ELEV.
GREAT ROOM 34'5" X 21'9"
R
W.I.C. ALL DIMENSIONS ARE APPROXIMATE
WO
MASTER SUITE BEDROOM 16'7" X 15'7"
MASTER SUITE SITTING ROOM 16'8" X 15'9"
MECH
G
W.I.C.
SOUTH
32 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
DINING ROOM 21'2" X 14'4"
CHEF'S KITCHEN
F
orty years ago, give or take, I spent a week in a Manhattan luxury apartment for the first time. Though born here, I’d been raised in the ’burbs and had never seen anything like that place. It was perhaps the source of my realty obsession. A current listing a few floors higher up in the same building—recently price-chopped from $50 million to $45 million—took me back in an instant to that borrowed apartment. It was spacious and gracious, but what I remember best is the shower. It had nine nozzles that hit you from all sides. Over the course of that week, I learned a bit about the building. It was on the corner of Central Park West and 72nd Street but wasn’t as old as the dark, brooding Dakota, within view from “my” living room’s windows. The luxe apartment building was called The Majestic and occupied the same corner as a turn-of-the century hotel with the same name. It and several more residential hotels like it were the inspirations for the Stentorian, the hotel where Edith Wharton’s social-climbing anti-heroine Undine Spragg (The Custom of the Country, 1913) began her assault on New York society. The Dakota was the first apartment house in the neighborhood, but it was soon joined by the Beresford, a six-story family hotel across Manhattan Square from the American Museum. The Beresford proved so popular, it was enlarged in 1892 to take up the whole block between 81st and 82nd streets. Next, in 1890, came the Hotel San Remo, on 75th street; and in 1894, the Hotel Majestic, with a grand restaurant, dancing salon, and roof garden. It was built on an empty lot facing the Dakota, by developer Jacob Rothschild, a German-born milliner-turned-developer, and his German-educated architect Alfred Zucker. Those hotels may have occupied the same corners and born the same names as today’s grand Beresford, Majestic, and San Remo apartment houses, but they were not the same. Those luxury apartment houses all rose within a few years of one other, just before and
TERRACE 22' X 6'6"
TERRACE 32' X 6'
LIVING ROOM 27'3" X 17'4"
EAST TERRACE
W.I.C. W.I.C.
MECH.
STAFF 9'6" X 7'
W/D
BEDROOM 15'6" X 11'8"
LAUNDRY CL.
CL.
STAFF ENTRY
CL.
after the great stock market crash of 1929, and replaced what by then seemed like puny buildings. The first, designed by Emery Roth, was a new Beresford, which opened in September 1929. The next year, Roth’s Italian Baroque 27-story Sam Remo opened. But neither caught the tenor of the times as well as the new Majestic, a streamlined Art Moderne building, which opened in 1931. Designed by Jacques Delamarre for builder Irwin S. Chanin, the Majestic was already under way when the market crashed, and Chanin quickly had it redesigned to reflect the new economic reality. Originally planned as a 45-story edifice with a single tower and apartments of 11 to 24 rooms, The Majestic shrank to 29 floors,with four- to 14-room apartments, but grew a second tower, allowing those smaller homes to have more corners and open views. Among the construction workers was Bruno Richard Hauptmann, later executed for the kidnap-murder of the famous flyer Charles Lindbergh’s baby. Hauptmann didn’t come to work the day the ransom was paid and quit without notice two days later. Some believe the unrecovered ransom might still be hidden in the building. Chanin lost control after defaulting on his mortgage not long af-
Š 2013. Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
Equal Housing Opportunity.
S A L E S | R E N TA L S | R E L O C AT I O N | N E W D E V E L O P M E N T S | R E TA I L | M O R T G A G E | P R O P E R T Y M A N A G E M E N T | T I T L E I N S U R A N C E
DOUGLAS ELLIMAN LEADS THE WAY WITH ONE WEBSITE AND EVERY SINGLE LISTING.
You’ll find the most current and complete set of the finest real estate listings in just one place: AskElliman.com. Winner of 9 industry awards, our website invites you inside thousands of available homes throughout New York City, Long Island, The Hamptons/North Fork, Westchester, and South Florida. An unparalleled force in the industry, Douglas Elliman now reaches even further, allowing you to shop any of these markets from one incredibly versatile website. Leverage the power behind the most powerful name in real estate today.
unreal estate
The chef’s kitchen in the apartment’s great room (at left), and the art moderne towers (above).
Majestic residents, from left: ian schrager, Walter Winchell and Meyer lansky. The majestic view, at right
terward. The building was converted to a cooperative in 1958 and declared a landmark 30 years later The Majestic attracted the prominent from the start. Over the years, residents included the gangsters Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Costello, who would be shot and wounded in the lobby in 1957. The entertainment world was represented by Milton Berle, Zero Mostel, and more recently, Conan O’Brien. The gossip columnist Walter Winchell also rented an apartment. He would have been intrigued by the current $45 million listing. The 12-room apartment, with a 100-foot-long terrace facing the Dakota and another small terrace overlooking Central Park, is a combination of two apartments, one floor up from Costello’s pad (which was later sold to William and Karen Lauder) and next door to Mostel’s. Its recent owners have been as diverse and accomplished as the floor plan is awe-inspiring. In the late 1960s, Dr. Wilbur J. Gould owned apartment 19F. A throat specialist, he treated Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Elizabeth Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. After Gould’s death in 1994, the apartment was sold to Gary Gensler, then a Goldman Sachs partner known for advising media companies like Knight Ridder and the Newhouse family’s Advance Publications. Another doctor, Harold Wise, lived next door in 19E. “He was the emergency doctor for the building,” says his widow June, a former opera singer, who recalls that they moved in on the same day in 1980 that John Lennon was murdered across the street in front of the Dakota. After a year of avoiding contact “because we were so afraid of not liking each other,” the Wises and Genslers became “great friends,” she continues. Then, in 1997, the two couples agreed to market their apartments simultaneously, even though Gensler didn’t think they’d find a single buyer. He’d just retired from Goldman at age 39, and been named 34 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
OWner June Wise learned ThaT ian sChrager Was lOOking aT anOTher CenTral Park WesT aParTMenT. “he’ll like This beTTer,” she TOld her brOkers. buT Then, he never MOved in.
Bill Clinton’s assistant secretary of the Treasury. Still in Washington, he’s now the chairman of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. Somehow, June Wise learned that Ian Schrager, the Studio 54 coowner who’d gone on to become a hotel magnate, was looking at an apartment a few blocks south; she recalls how she told the brokers at the time, “He’ll like this better.” Indeed, at the end of that year, Schrager paid $9 million for the two apartments, setting a record on Central Park West. But three years of renovations later (with Philippe Starck as his designer), Schrager, who was getting divorced, listed it for $22 million instead of moving in. It’s traded hands twice since then, bought first by investment manager David Mimran in 2004 for $12.2 million, and then by Susan Soros, ex-wife of the billionaire George, who paid more than $20 million for it in 2006. Christopher Halstead, the broker, won’t comment on the listing, but from the one photo of the apartment available on Halstead’s website, it’s no longer Starck but it’s still stunning. ✦
The Home Purchase Experts
SM
Buying your home and getting your mortgage is a very big deal. We treat it that way.
Check us out. There’s a good chance we’ll win your business. Guaranteed Rate is recognized as a Top 10 lender in America. America We’ve provided over $50 billion in home loans and have helped hundreds of thousands of home owners with their mortgages. New York Lexington Avenue – NY P: (212) 593-4343
East Hampton - NY
New York 23rd Street - NY
Croton on Hudson - NY
Brooklyn - NY
Washington Depot - CT
750 Lexington Avenue • New York, NY 10022 P: (212) 604-0105 26 West 23rd Street • New York, NY 10010 P: (718) 596-6425 100 Remsen Street • Brooklyn, NY 11201
Southampton - NY
P: (631) 283-6660 101 Jobs Lane • Southampton, NY 11968
P: (631) 324-1555 40A Newtown Lane • East Hampton, NY 11937 P: (914) 271-3540 125 Grand Street • Croton on Hudson, NY 10520 P: (203) 982-4762 18 Titus Road, 2nd Fl. • Washington Depot, CT 06794
Download our free eBook
Demystifying the Mortgage Process by scanning the QR code here or visiting http://bit.ly/XD3OXZ
NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System) ID 2611 • Alabama Lic# 21566 • AK Lic#AK2611 • AR Lic#103947 - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago IL 60613 866-934-7283• AZ - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - 14811 N. Kierland Blvd., Ste. 100, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254 Mortgage Banker License # BK-0907078 • CA - Licensed by the Department of Corporations under California Residential Mortgage Lending Act Lic #413-0699 • CO- Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Regulated by the Division of Real Estate, 773-290-0505 • CT - Lic #17196 • DE - Lic # 9436 • DC - Lic #MLB 2611 • FL-Lic# MLD618 • GA - Residential Mortgage Licensee #20973 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • ID Guaranteed Rate, Inc. Lic #MBL-5827 • IL - Residential Mortgage Licensee - IDFPR, 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois, 60603, 312-793-3000, 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 #MB.0005932 • IN - Lic #11060 & #10332 • IA - Lic #MBK-2005-0132 • KS - Licensed Mortgage Company - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. – License #MC.0001530 • KY - Mortgage Company Lic #MC20335 • LA - Lic #RML2866 • ME - Lic #SLM1302 • MD - Lic #13181 • MA - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Mortgage Lender & Mortgage Broker License MC 2611 • MI - Lic #FR-0016637 & SR-0011899 • MN - Lic #MO 20526478 • MS –Guaranteed Rate, Inc 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613-Mississippi Licensed Mortgage Company, Lic # 2611 - • MO – Guaranteed RateLic # 10-1744 • MT Lic# 2611 • Licensed in NJ: Licensed Mortgage Banker - NJ Department of Banking & Insurance • NE - Lic #1811 • NV - Lic #3162 & 3161 • NH - Guaranteed Rate, Inc. dba Guaranteed Rate of Delaware, licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department - Lic # 13931-MB • NM - Lic #01995 • NY - Licensed Mortgage Banker—NYS Department of Financial Services- 3940 N Ravenswood, Chicago, IL 60613 Lic # B500887• NC - Lic #L-109803 • ND - Lic #MB101818 • OH – Lic #MBMB.850069.000 and Lic #SM.501367.000 - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • OK - Lic # MB001713 • OR - Lic #ML-3836 - - 3940 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613 • PA - Licensed by the Pennsylvania Banking Department Lic #20371 • RI – Rhode Island Licensed Lender Lic # 20102682LL, RI – Rhode Island Licensed Loan Broker Lic # 20102681LB• SC – Lic #-2611 • TN - Lic #109179 • SD Lic# ML.04997 • TX - Lic # 50426 & Lic # 47207 • UT - Lic #7495184- • VT - Lic #LL6100 & MB930 • VA – Guaranteed Rate, Inc. - Licensed by Virginia State Corporation Commission, License # MC-3769 • WA - Lic #CL-2611 • WI - Lic #27394BA & 2611BR • WV – Lic #ML-30469 & MB-30098 • WY – Lic#2247
cocktail on the avenue
by
DAISY PRINCE
Jamie Johnson The filmmaker of Born Rich looks back at the decade since he made his first film and talks openly about his reactions to the series and what he would have done differently
W
Petes’s Tavern 129 East 18th Street New York City 212.473.7676
36 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
alking into Pete’s Tavern on Irving Place is a bit like walking into a John Hughes movie. Duran Duran’s The Reflex blares from the speakers and the bar is filled with men wearing bow ties, looking like they’ve just escaped from the set of Metropolitan. Twenty years ago, Jay McInerney and Morgan Entrekin must have met here frequently to down gin and tonics before heading out for a night that would stretch into the next afternoon. The place doesn’t look like much, if anything, has changed. During a recent visit, I settled onto one of the stools and waited for filmmaker Jamie Johnson to appear. Moments later, he glided into the bar in a slim-fitting black jacket and beanie hipster hat, which he kept on throughout our interview. We both ordered a beer (Heineken for Johnson and a Stella Artois for me) and convinced a waiter to let us sit in a booth in the quieter restaurant section, in return for a big tip. Johnson and I have known each other tangentially for over 15 years. His sister, Jazz, was a couple of years behind me at Barnard, and my memories of Johnson as a teenager are of a quiet, slightly aloof boy who kept his distance from some of his sister’s rowdier friends. He was always an observer and could, at times, seem diffident and a bit of an outsider. The quality of appearing like one, even though he is the ultimate insider, as an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, stood him in good stead when he was making one of the seminal films of the 2000s, HBO’s Born Rich. The documentary, directed and produced by Johnson, exploded on to the scene in 2003. For the first time, a door had been opened to a very private and hard-to-reach world; then, just as quickly, it shut again. Johnson was adored and pilloried in equal measure; the film world toasted him as the new l’enfant terrible and some of his peers called him an out-and-out “class traitor.” No matter how you looked at it, Born Rich was a film that shook things up. Talking about its legacy ten years on, Johnson gave me his thoughts on why he felt the film resonated so strongly. “The people in that film are so very young,” he said. “It’s a youthful perspective, and it’s a very formative time in their lives, when they are speaking openly with emotional honesty in a way that only young people do. There’s no way that a person in their early 30s would answer a question with the same candor. You are still forming your identity and what you express is more revealing about who you are.” He warmed to his topic, “People who aren’t from money and don’t live in the world of AVENUE would never have any exposure to that without watching the film. They can read gossip columns or financial reporting about how much money people have, and ‘this is what his or her material lifestyle looks like,’ but they can’t really know how people feel about that. How they feel about themselves and their lives. That’s what the movie does that they wouldn’t have known about otherwise…shoot.” Johnson knocked his beer over (what is it about me that I seem to
I N T E R I O R S B Y V I C TO R I A H AG A N 1 – 5 B E D R O O M P R E WA R C O N D O M I N I U M S
141 EAST 88TH STREET NEW YORK, NY 10128 · T 212 860 4188 · E INFO@PHILIPHOUSENYC.COM · PHILIPHOUSENYC.COM E X C L U S I V E S A L E S AG E N T: S T R I B L I N G M A R K E T I N G A S S O C I AT E S . T H E C O M P L E T E O F F E R I N G T E R M S A R E I N A N O F F E R I N G P L A N AVA I L A B L E F RO M S P O N S O R . F I L E N O. C D 1 1 - 0 2 4 3 . E QUA L H O U S I N G O P P O RT U N I T Y.
cocktail on the avenue
make people spill their drinks?), which brought the waiter over. Very politely, Johnson asked for another beer. “Sure thing, said the waiter, “I’ll bring it to you in a sippy cup this time.” Johnson laughed in agreement. Returning to the topic at hand, I asked if he would do anything differently were he to make the film again. Sliding around in his booth seat, which was as uncomfortable as a church pew, Johnson looked me straight in the eye. “Yeah, a lot,” he replied. “I was so young . . . I think I would have engaged with people more and participated more. I really just listened. I probably could’ve created more full and complex portraits of the people in that film than I really did. And because I was young, because I was immature, I didn’t really understand how to do that . . . I not only didn’t have the filmmaking skills, I didn’t have the social skills to do that. I would have liked to; it would have been better for me and probably better for the film. “In many instances there were too many characters, and one of the reasons there were too many characters is because I never spent huge amounts of time with any single individual, in terms of recording them in the movie. But if you really want to understand every facet of somebody else, you have to. And there was resistance to it because people didn’t want every component of their life filmed, and they were fed up with the amount of pressure I put on them. But I could have done more of it—I just didn’t realize it.” Johnson’s relationships with his film’s subjects nowadays don’t appear to be unduly fraught. He even bears no ill will toward Luke Weil, one of the most outspoken people in the film, who later sued Johnson. “I like Weil; he’s smarter than most people realize, and he’s interesting,” Johnson said. “He’s also the only person in the film who was willing to say things that were accurate, that may reflect what our peers are thinking all the time. He was willing to say them, and no one else really was. I do admire him for that.” I asked him if he thought Born Rich could be made now. Johnson shook his head. “It’s hard to look at it now and understand what it represented at the time of its release. Now, reality television about wealth is a staple genre on TV, whereas there wasn’t a single show about that at the time, The Apprentice didn’t exist and even Paris Hilton wasn’t an international celebrity—so it made more of an impact and people weren’t as guarded. Whereas now, if you described the film to someone who had no historical reference for it, they’re like, ‘oh, that sounds familiar,’ and it sounds like a trashy, lame, annoying project. I think it was a different time and that makes all the difference.” I wanted to understand whether Johnson, who was in his early 20s when he was making the film (he’s now 34) knew what he was getting into. The editing process took over a year, and I don’t think he could have known what he was in for. Because the team was in such a rush to finish the movie for Sundance, only one person screened the rough cut. That person was Michel Negroponte, an MIT professor and revered elder in the documentary film community. Johnson remembered the professor’s reaction well. “I’ll never forget; the movie stopped, and he said, ‘This is the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen. This is not a movie, this is extremely disturbing. I’m not sure what to say to you.’ And he walked out. Later, he called and said, ‘I just want to let you know I had an extreme reaction earlier. 38 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
There were many things that were horrid and repellent in the film and I didn’t anticipate that.’ Then he said to make some technical changes and some filmmaking adjustments. But, wow, that was the only person to see the film before we sent it to Sundance.” When the series debuted, Johnson became an instant celebrity. Was he overwhelmed by the instant fame? “Overwhelmed? No. But it was surprising. I think we were all surprised.” One person very taken aback by the film was Johnson’s father, Jim. His reactions to being filmed in the movie were mixed at best and Johnson recounted how his father acted even before seeing the film at Sundance. “Jim was in line to get into the movie and he starts talking to a woman, a woman who was looking forward to seeing the movie, and Jim says, ‘Ah, well, I don’t really want to see it, I don’t think it’s a great idea. It really pisses me off.’ Then the woman watches the movie and realizes that the guy she’d been talking to outside was my dad.” It turned out that the woman was a journalist, who began her article with that anecdote. “It doesn’t surprise me,” the younger Johnson said. Sipping my beer, I asked if the scenes with his father were staged. “Jim would resist and say, ‘No, no, Pete’s Tavern no, it’s not happening,’ and then somehow stretch himself into participating, and all of a sudden he was being filmed. What’s not in the cut is, the moment after the soundbite he delivered, he turned to [me], saying, ‘I’m not gonna participate, I don’t wanna do this. I feel miserably uncomfortable.’ “I don’t think he ever internally could make up his mind to the degree to which he did want to participate or the degree to which he didn’t. Even today, at times, he’ll be like, ‘You’re not gonna film me, are you?’ And he’ll be smiling. So, I’m like, ‘Are you saying you find this amusing or are you saying you find this miserable?’ I don’t know that he’s really made his mind up about it, even now.” We were now nearing the bottom of our drinks. Johnson had wanted to meet at 9:30 p.m., and it was almost 11. Turns out we were meeting this late because Johnson had a personal training appointment. He’s pretty health conscious and is trying to eat only organic food and cut down on his drinking. “I was never a sloppy drunk but I used to get drunk more nights than not. Everyone says, if you don’t party as much you get more done, but you really do. You are just a lot more efficient.” And Johnson’s been very focused on his work in the last few years. Currently, he has a clothing line, Black Sweater, which is worn by celebrities like Daniel Radcliffe and Matt Damon. But his main focus is still film: There are another couple of movies in the works, one on equestrian life and one which will be a western. Right now, all his time is consumed with his projects. He says he doesn’t even have a girlfriend, despite the fact that he’s been seen out regularly with Lily Kwong. Johnson himself insisted he’s still single. Since I had already paid at the bar for the beers, Johnson left the tip. He folded the bills and put them under the glass so I couldn’t see the amount; however the waiter followed us out of the restaurant area and thanked Johnson profusely. We said good-bye in the street, and as Johnson walked away, the light of the street lamps elongated his already stretched form. He looked relaxed and happy to be in his own company as he strolled into the night. ✦
We Clean Valuable Rugs “Never clean this rug” was good advice when traditional rug washing was your only option. Revita is not traditional rug washing. Revita revitalizes rugs, purging them of dirt, bacteria, dust mites, allergens, stains and odors. No harsh chemicals. In fact, Revita removes the toxic residue left by previous rug cleaners and gently strips away the brittle calcium deposited in your rug by the well water they used. A revitalized rug is softer, richer and healthier than ever before.
Utterly clean. You’ll smile when you see and feel the difference. Revita is a new technology using ultra-purified water and purely organic additives to restore the life and vitality of area rugs, even the most delicate, antique silk Persians and Orientals. Miraculously, Revita costs about the same as traditional rug washing. But technology is always like that, isn’t it? Giving us safe, affordable solutions that were impossible only yesterday. Learn more at
revitaRUGS.com
or call us at 855-573-8482
PS – Patching, weaving, re-dyeing and
re-fringing are performed daily by our master conservators. Your rug is in expert hands with Revita. And our drivers and estimators are happy, friendly and college educated. What a company!
Hamid Zarei Azita Goldman
Learn more about our process online.
Rutherford lies down in a strapless gown hand embroidered with gold sequins from Reem Acra, 730 Fifth Avenue, 212.308.8760. 18k gold pineapple bracelet by Verdura, 745 Fifth Avenue, 212.758.3388. Left hand: Diamond 18k white gold Cubism superdome ring by Stefano Canturi, Canturi New York, 42 East 66th Street, 212.879.8800, www.canturi.com. Right hand: “Chioccola” ring with briolette cut, white diamonds, all set in 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold drop boule earrings from de Grisogono, 824 Madison Avenue, 212.439.4220.
40 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
She’ll take
Manhattan
Despite a bad divorce and a cruel custody decision, kelly Rutherford is marching on with her head held high written by Bob Morris photographed by Carlos Ruiz styled by Elle Werlin hair by Angelo David for Angelo David Haircare makeup by Julie Tussey for Angelo David Salon/ Dior Beauty
Shot on location at The Mark Hotel in a Mark Premier two-bedroom suite
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 41
O
n the kind of damp and drizzly morning that would keep some Upper East Siders at home or desperate for a blowout, Kelly Rutherford looks lovely and sleek in tight white jeans, black riding boots and an architecturally stunning Brunello Cucinelli wool coat. Her skin glows as if the winter air were full of omega oils and aloe vera. Her big smile defies the damp chill. She crosses Madison Avenue and, rain be damned, plants herself in front of Stubbs & Wootton’s window, where she takes pictures with her phone of black slippers decorated with big valentine hearts. “I’ll put these up on Pinterest,” she says. In the window of the designer Vera Wang, who once gave a dinner the actress attended, a modern tiered wedding gown holds her gaze. “I asked to wear lots of her clothes on Gossip Girl,” Rutherford says of her stint on the series that ended in December. Then she walks a couple of blocks down, enjoying more displays along the way. “I love window shopping around here,” she says. “I relate to New York more than any other city. I just feel more at home here than anywhere else in the world.” For those who wouldn’t know better, especially if they judge books or actresses by their covers, hearing the unpretentious Rutherford declare an affinity for tough-as-nails New York might be surprising. Sure, she played a former ballerina and party girl-turned-society mom on Gossip Girl, where she got to wear some of the most sophisticated designers in New York. But she was
42 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
“She’s just a good person who wears her heart on her sleeve— that’s just the way she is.” —Jennifer Creel
born in Kentucky and grew up in uncynical Newport Beach, California. In a case of life imitating art, she now lives on the Upper East Side. And since moving back here six years ago, having lived in New York during various stints before that (she trained at the venerable downtown HB Studio and once lived over the Waverly Restaurant), she has come to know this city as well as any insider. “In L.A. you can take things slowly and hide out in your house in the hills,” she says. “But not here. New York is of the moment, and it’s everything all at once. You can show your kids all kinds of amazing things without ever getting in a car. I love everything about it.” That includes the chance to see women of style whom she respects. “Growing up, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, but I always admired women who were chic and powerful,” she says. They included Diane von Furstenberg, Gloria Steinem, and Lee Radziwill, whom she
Rutherford wears a white silk gown by Rafael Cennamo, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue, 212.753.4000. Chick pin, made of South Sea pearls and pavĂŠ diamonds, set in white gold; triple cabochon earrings in blue topaz, set with diamonds in 18k white gold; pearl and diamond fringe necklace set in 18k gold, signed Seaman Schepps (7.56 cts); all from Seaman Schepps, 485 Park Avenue, 212.753.9520. White diamond and white gold ring from de Grisogono, 824 Madison Avenue, 212.439.4220. Diamond 18k white gold Cubism bracelet by Stefano Canturi, Canturi New York, 42 East 66th Street, 212.879.8800, www.canturi.com
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 43
Lace water lily sleeveless tea length dress with organza overlay and cut-out back from J. Mendel, 723 Madison Avenue, 212.832.5830. Sputnik design white pearl bracelet in 18k gold, signed Seaman Schepps, at Seaman Schepps, 485 Park Avenue, 212.753.9520. 18k gold lollipop stud earrings in clear quartz from Ippolita, 796 Madison Avenue, 646.664.4240.
spotted in the neighborhood not long ago. “She’s so amazing, so understated, and one of the few style icons left from that era,” Rutherford coos. She is unapologetically upbeat and enthusiastic, even at a time that she’s embroiled in a terrible custody battle. But more about that later. Right now, she’s excited to be inside for breakfast at The Carlyle, in all its hushed elegance, just blocks from her apartment. “After the hurricane, downtown came uptown, and this place was packed for weeks,” she says, sitting on a well-lit banquette in an empty lounge area, and ordering a decaf cappuccino and nothing more. “It was great; Bungalow at the Carlyle!”
R
utherford, 44, is a social whirlwind. She knows her nightlife as well as her social media, and gets around both quite well. She’s often photographed at fashionable events that she tweets about, charitable ones in particular, and she’s typically accompanied by influential Upper East Side pals who aren’t all that used to having a working actress in their midst. “Instead of spending all that money going out to dinner, why not put it to good use at a charity event?” she asks. “It’s a much more helpful way to have a good time.”
44 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
“She’s beautiful and elegant and a great addition to the group.” —Marjorie Gubelmann
Marjorie Gubelmann, who met the actress in the Hamptons years ago, thinks Rutherford has the right idea; that’s why Gubelmann says she’s always game to hit the town with her. “She’s beautiful and elegant and a great addition to the group,” Gubelmann says. “And even though not everybody watches TV in New York, everybody saw her in Gossip Girl at one time or another. There aren’t that many actresses who enjoy the kind of socializing we do, so it’s fun she’s around.” Jennifer Creel is another big fan. “[Rutherford has] a warm personality and is welcoming to everyone who approaches her,” Creel says. “She’s just a good person who wears her heart on her sleeve—that’s just the way she is.” “Heart on her sleeve” is putting it mildly. Since a court decision in August sent Rutherford’s two young children, Hermés, 6, and Helena, 3, to live in the south of France with their father, Daniel Giersch, from whom Rutherford parted in 2010 in a contentious divorce, she has talked to the
press about her loss to the point that Giersch’s lawyer called her actions in an earlier interview an “aggressive public relations approach.” In September she appeared on network TV, breaking into tears on both Dateline and The View, where Whoopi Goldberg ran over to hand the actress a box of tissues. “Great service around here,” she quipped before continuing her alarming saga. “It’s just crazy,” she said.
G
iersch, a German businessman whose mother has a house in France, had his American visa revoked last year for unknown reasons, which the government is not required to provide. Because he now cannot reenter the country, the judge ruled it would be best for Rutherford to visit their children, despite their being born in the U.S., rather than to regularly take them to meet their father in Bermuda, Canada or any other locale he may enter. Since her children were taken to France in May 2012, Rutherford has made 12 trips to see them. Attorney Dan Abrams of ABC News called the decision “one of the worst custody decisions— ever.” Alan Dershowitz, who was involved in the Elián González case involving a family split between Florida and Cuba, has gotten involved as a consultant. Even in a world of incredibly dramatic divorces, and the fishbowls of New York and Los Angeles where powerful people don’t take adversity sitting down, this one has been a killer, worthy of the most convoluted plot twist of Gossip Girl.
46 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Lying low, Rutherford wears a white shirt dress in cotton poplin with a wool and bridle leather belt, both from Hermès, 691 Madison Avenue, 212.751.3181. Heels by Manolo Blahnik for J. Mendel, 723 Madison Avenue, 212.832.5830. Handbag by Max Mara, 813 Madison Avenue, 212.879.6100. Amethyst “Illumina” diamond and 18k rose gold earrings by Plukka, available at Plukka.com. 18k gold drizzle pavé diamond ring; 18k gold stardust two-station pavé diamond bangle; 18k gold pavé multi-bangle with diamonds, all by Ippolita, 796 Madison Ave, 646.664.4240
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 47
The actress sits in an electric orange lace dress by Carolina Herrera, available at Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Avenue, 212.753.7300. Handbag by Max Mara, 813 Madison Avenue, 212.879.6100. 18k gold drizzle pavĂŠ diamond flower stud earrings from Ippolita, 796 Madison Avenue, 646.664.4240. Gold bracelet from de Grisogono, 824 Madison Avenue, 212.439.4220
Rutherford shines in little else but fine jewelry by Graff. White diamond line bracelet (21.14 cts); white round and pear-shape diamond lotus earrings (14.78 cts); white multi-shape diamond necklace (diamonds 36.38 cts); white round diamond ribbonshaped brooch with pear and marquise diamonds (23.10 cts); white pear cut diamond ring with tapered baguette shoulders (5.74 cts), available at Graff New York, 710 Madison Avenue, 212.355.9292
Back in 2009, when Rutherford was two months pregnant with her second child, she suspected Giersch of cheating, after only three years of marriage. She sought a divorce, and things got so ugly that when she gave birth, she did not include his name on her daughter’s birth certificate. Giersch claimed he learned he had a daughter only by reading the tabloids. Then, not long after, Rutherford declared on Good Morning America that she was frightened he would abduct the children during the divorce proceedings. Meanwhile, Giersch’s business practices came under fire; sources told People magazine and the New York Post that there had been various allegations of weapons and drug dealing and fraud, all of which the source said were untrue. Giersch’s lawyer claims that a former lawyer for Rutherford actually informed on his client’s alleged illegal actions to the State Department. Rutherford denied any knowledge of them. Nevertheless, the State Department apparently found enough evidence to deport him last spring.
I
“
’m being punished for being a good mother and taking care of my children, and he’s being rewarded for having his visa revoked,” she told Dateline in September. “Our kids are U.S. citizens, and they have a right to be raised in the U.S.” Terrible as the ordeal is, Rutherford, in her own upbeat and irrepressible way, is trying to turn the
50 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
“I would certainly be more careful getting into a relationship with someone next time. . . I will need references and a board to interview him!”
experience into something positive. While associates have recommended she stop talking about the case, she says she will continue, and in fact has started speaking out for organizations focused on treacherous divorces and custody issues. “I’m hoping that in some way, my case will help change the way courts makes their decisions,” she said on The View. “I’m just thankful that everyone has taken an interest in it…I think it will help create change and help get my kids home.” She made that statement in September. But in February, as she sipped her cappuccino at the Carlyle, nothing seemed to suggest the case was getting resolved in her favor. “Everybody feels for her and wants to help,” says her pal Gubelmann. “A lot of people get married and divorced,” Rutherford herself says. “Do I feel I was taken by surprise? Yes. But things like this can happen to anyone. I meet so many women in their 30s in a rush to get married and have the ‘princess’ wedding. All I did was ask for a divorce.
Alongside her dog, Oliver, the woman-about-town struts in a white leather trench coat by Salvatore Ferragamo, 655 Fifth Avenue, 212.759.3822. White leather sandals by Manolo Blahnik for J. Mendel, 723 Madison Avenue, 212.832.5830. Handbag by Max Mara, 813 Madison Avenue, 212.879.6100
“I’ve had women around here tell me that the reason they don’t leave their husbands is because they are powerful men and would rake them over the coals with a divorce. It’s just easier to stay because they are terrified to leave.”
L
I didn’t even ask for money, and I volunteered to take the children to see him every holiday.” She pauses. “I would certainly be more careful getting into a relationship with someone next time, especially if he’s from abroad,” she says, then switches into light comic mode: “I will need references and a board to interview him!” She describes how she’s become a sounding board for other women’s experiences, mentioning disturbing conversations she’s shared about various marriages on the Upper East Side. “I’ve had women around here tell me that the reason they don’t leave their husbands is because they are very powerful men and would rake them over the coals, with a divorce. It’s just easier to stay because they are terrified to leave.” At any rate, she says, she’s now determined not to let her nightmare define her. After all, divorce never kept her mother, Ann Edwards, a vivacious model, actress and author who married four times, down for long; Rutherford says that learn-
52| AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
ing to live with various stepfathers in childhood made her adaptable and keenly observant in ways that have inspired and benefited her as an actress. “I’m just an enthusiast who loves to fall in love with people and things all the time,” she says. “I don’t mean that I swing from chandeliers, but I really do love life.” The dark clouds around her custody battle comment seem to be lifting as she bundles up to go back outside, where the weather has improved, as well.
ater, she’ll have lunch with Blythe Danner, another lovely Upper East Side mom and actress who often works on TV. But for now, Rutherford only has one thing on her mind. “I have to go home to Skype with the children,” she says. “We do it every day.” She will do that seated on her sofa alongside her children’s two big white rabbits. “I’m always very upbeat when I talk to them,” she says. “I don’t let this situation define us at all.” In addition to the rabbits, she has her 17-yearold Australian Cattle Dog, Oliver, to keep her company during a difficult time. “He’s been with me forever,” she says. “We have the perfect marriage!” Perhaps someday she will find the same thing with the right man. ✦
Lindsey Wixson on the Carolina Herrera runway
Backstage atmosphere at the Carolina Herrera show
Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne backstage at the Carolina Herrera show
Ivanka Trump, Julie Henderson, Eleanor Ylvisaker and Shoshanna Gruss front row at the Carolina Herrera show
54 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Front row at the Carolina Herrera Fall 2013 Fashion Show
A round up of the chicest runways during New York Fashion Week
FASHIONWEEK
FLASH BACK By Suzanne Weinstock Klein
There’s little that is more inconvenient during New York Fashion Week than a winter storm like the one that doused the first half of the Fall/ Winter 2013 collection presentations in shoe-destroying slush and rain. Nonetheless, winter storm Nemo did little to dampen the turnout at Lincoln Center – particularly for some of AVENUE’s favorite designers. Michael Kors has plenty to be celebrating this season. In addition to stellar reviews for his sporty chic collection and a major surge in his stock price, his front row was one of the hottest tickets at New York’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. In fact, to eke out as many seats as possible, he extended the center section of front row seats practically into the backstage. In one section of the runway, Aerin Lauder, Lauren Dupont, Renee Rockefeller and Marjorie Gubelmann sat together, while the next generation of genetically blessed socials was seated in another section that included Amanda Hearst, Lily Kwong, Alexandra Richards, and Amber Le Bon among a slew of other pretty young things. Kors also drew in a couple celebrity coups. While attendees Jada Pinkett Smith and daughter Willow Smith were Fashion Week fixtures, Zoe Saldana, Hillary Swank and Michael Douglas (sans wife Catherine Zeta-Jones) bestowed their presence exclusively upon Michael Kors. Carolina Herrera pulled in an impressive group of supporters herself. Ivanka Trump, who came on her own, was pleased to find herself
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 55
Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera
Martha Stewart, Dennis Basso and Joan Rivers
Michael Douglas, Hilary Swank, Zoe Saldana and Jada Pinkett Smith
Karlie Kloss and Magdalena Frackowiak backstage at Michael Kors Carine Roitfeld and Michael Kors
56 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • JANUARY 2013
A look from the Carolina Herrera Show Top: Finale at the Carolina Herrera Fall 2013 show Bottom: Looks from the Dennis Basso F/W 2013 runway
seated next to friend and model Julie Henderson, who were both just a few seats down from Elettra Wiedemann. “Now that I’m married, I’m trying to dress up more,” said Wiedemann who married James Marshall this past August. After taking off her baby weight, Molly Sims was excited to check out some glamorous red carpet gowns and wasn’t seated far from fellow new mother Julia Restoin Roitfeld. Making a rare fashion week appearance, Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter came out to support Carolina Herrera, seated between wife Anna Scott Carter and sunglass-clad photographer Fran Lebowitz. Also in attendance were AVENUE friends like Alina Cho, Lorry Newhouse and Lauren Remington Platt. We so rarely get to see each other that we’re making an entire girls day out,” said opera legend Renee Fleming of friend and seatmate Christine Baranski who attended Vera Wang’s show. A bit further down the front row, photographers went crazy for singer John Legend who sat with fiancée Christine Teigen and this Fashion Week’s most omnipresent attendee, Jada Pinkett Smith. And no New York Fashion Week would be without its fireworks. Whispers went through the show of furrier Dennis Basso that Joan Rivers was refusing to be seated next to Joan Collins. Instead, Rivers found herself seated between Star Jones and Martha Stewart, the latter of whom she chatted animatedly with through the show. No need to worry about Collins who was seated without incident, as were supermodels Carol Alt and Coco Rocha—both rocking spectacular Basso furs. The list of bold-faced names at Lincoln Center goes on and on. From New York’s social set to Hollywood’s A-list, the tents were packed to the brim. But, alas, the tents have come down and the crowds have moved onto London. We’ll be watching when they return in September. ✦ APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 57
ROCK ‘N’
courtesy of PrL
ROYALTY
Prince Rupert Loewenstein in finery
A Prince Among Stones: That Business with the Rolling Stones and Other Adventures by Prince Rupert Loewenstein (Bloomsbury, 2013) 272 pp. $27. Reviewed by John T. Unger. 58 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
M
Loewenstein and Mick Jagger by Jonny Stiletto
ments Board. “What do you want to do?” asked the administrator. “I don’t know,” he replied, “but I want to make money. Where can I make money?” It turns out that there were two opportunities: one was with the Metal Box Company, somewhere near Birmingham, at £600 to £700 a year ($1,057 in today’s currency), and another with Bache & Co., the New York stockbrokers, in their London office, at about half the pay. London, of course, was more appealing than Birmingham so off he went. After a year or so of training at Bache, Prince Rupert and a few friends, including the flamboyant Baron Alexandre de Redé, decided to buy a small investment bank, Leopold Joseph & Sons, Ltd. Owing to his charm and acquaintances, the Prince was becoming good at attracting clients. And … “I had an instinctive sense of money,” writes the Prince. It is not surprising that in 1968, Mick Jagger, known for mixing it up with nobility, was introduced to Prince Rupert by a mutual friend. He let on that the Stones’ contracts and finances were in hellish shape, and could Rupert help? The Prince had no idea who Mick Jagger was and had never heard of the Rolling Stones. After a quick study, however, Rupert took on the job as accountant and manager for the Stones, playing a major role in untangling their affairs, which had been mismanaged, to say the least, by the notorious American businessman Allen Klein. With their business relationship now terminated, Jagger’s reaction to this book was, “Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t think your
ex-bank manager should be discussing your financial dealings and personal information in public. It just goes to show that well-broughtup people don’t always display good manners.” Likewise, Prince Rupert gets his oar in, in the epilogue to the book: “During the long, highly entertaining, often amusing but odd marriage between the Rolling Stones and me, I have often reflected generally on why I do not and did not like their music… It must seem extraordinary that I was never a fan of the Stones’ music, or indeed of rock ‘n’ roll in general.” It has been said that a professional is one who gets on with the job whether he likes it or not. ✦ courtesy of PrL
ick Jagger is known to be one of the biggest and richest rock stars on the planet with a net worth of $300 million. While getting rich is great, everyone knows that it’s the staying rich that’s the true test. And Mick Jagger has stayed very rich, much richer than many of his contemporaries. At least part of the credit for Jagger’s immense wealth must be placed in the hands of Mick Jagger’s private banker, Rupert Loewenstein, or to give him his fullname Prince Rupert zu Loewenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, Count von LoewensteinScharffeneck. (Try to say that name in its entirety after a couple of glasses of wine) Loewenstein is a German aristocrat who traces his 2000-year-old pedigree, over a fourpage appendix to this book. On his paternal side, he is descended from the dukes of Bavaria; various German princes; Rupert III, king of Germany; and Frederick I, the 15th century Elector Palatine. The line of descent from his mother, Countess Bianca Fischler von Treuberg, is even grander, running from Henry IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV, kings of France; through Philip V, Charles III, and Charles IV, kings of Spain, by way of Dom Pedro I, emperor and perpetual defender of Brazil. A collateral branch of the family includes Frederick V, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, king of Bohemia, who married Princess Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter of James VI of Scotland, who was also James I of England. Born in Majorca in 1933, the author spent his early life in Paris. When the Nazis took the city in 1940, like some seven-year-old junior Bogart, he got on the last civilian plane by himself and fled to London. There is virtually no other mention of the war in the book; but seeing how he was of an old and staunch Roman Catholic family, with British blood, he had not been persecuted. His father had been naturalized as a British subject in 1936. Managing a rock band is not the usual path for someone with this kind of background, and not just any rock bank but the Rolling Stones, one of the most shocking and overtly sexual of rock ‘n’ roll bands. Prince Rupert managed the Stones successfully for about 40 years. What an incongruous association, I hear you saying. How did this come about? After reading medieval history at Magdalen College, Oxford, on a scholarship, “Rupie the Groupie,” as he was later known in the trade, faced the realization that he had no money. He was stone broke. One would have liked to have been a fly on the wall when Rupert the scholar presented himself to the Oxford University Appoint-
Prince Rupert Loewenstein and Princess Josephine Lowenstein at the White Ball
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 59
GoinG for the
Gold
60 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
There is no better Oscar scribe than über publicist, Peggy Siegal. Here, she reveals all the glory, glamour (and financial detail) of this year’s highly competitive race for the tiny gold statuette.
Daniel Day Lewis at the Vanity Fair Oscar party at the Sunset Tower Hotel, after his Best Actor win for Lincoln
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 61
Ben Affleck, actor, producer and director for Best Picture winner Argo
George Clooney, producer of Best Picture winner Argo, with Stacy Keibler on the red carpet Top: Eddie Redmayne from Les Miz; Bottom: Girls star Allison Williams Peggy Siegal and Bradley Cooper, Best Actor nominee for Silver Linings Playbook
Thursday, February 21st The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had just opened its doors for ticket pick-up for the 85th Oscar telecast. Forty voting members, the distinguished director Norman Jewison, and I were on a long single-file line that snaked through the lobby. We patiently waited to go upstairs to pick up our tickets, clutching our photo IDs. Suddenly, a messenger slipped in and cut the line. He announced to the uniformed guard in a stage whisper, “Dreamworks,” and it was as if Steven Spielberg himself had just delivered the Gettysburg address: The messenger was ushered upstairs—the final act of the Lincoln campaign. Sleep deprived and jet lagged, I had just taken a six-hour flight from New York sitting next to Paula Wagner, who was Tom Cruise’s agentturned Broadway producer for Jessica Chastain’s theatrical presentation of The Heiress. We discussed Jessica’s-not-so-great chances to beat Jennifer Lawrence for Best Actress. Chastain was bringing her new boyfriend, Count Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo to be premiered on the red carpet. I mentioned Harvey Weinstein’s concern about Emmanuelle Riva’s last-minute surge for Best Actress for Amour. The French phenomenon doesn’t speak English, either did last year’s Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin. Riva had never been to L.A. Her campaign felt like voting for a ghost, even for her 86th birthday. This was the year I got phone calls in September from top studio executives, all announcing their win for Best Picture. This giddiness 62 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
was due to the excellent quality of the films, which resulted in the priciest Oscar war on record. Seven of the nine Best Picture nominees took in well over $100 million at the domestic box office, but it was the worldwide numbers— in the millions—that were staggering. Twentieth Century Fox’s Life of Pi caused a tsunami, at $595 million; Universal’s Les Misérables scored $412 million; the Weinstein Company’s Django Unchained whipped up $395 million; DreamWorks Lincoln delivered at $254 million; Warner Bros. Pictures’ Argo captured $219 million; Weinstein’s Silver Lining Playbook danced to $187 million; and Sony Pictures’ Zero Dark Thirty killed it at $107 million.
B
ack on line at the Academy, the informed buzz was as follows: Argo would take Best Picture because Chris Terrio’s script was most entertaining. The director snub to Ben was an industry godsend. Argo producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov advised from faraway Berlin, while Warner Bros.’ Sue Kroll kept the campaign on course on the home front. Lincoln’s victory was Daniel Day Lewis’ from day one of shooting, no pun intended. The suggestion that Obama was our answer to Lincoln was interesting. Voters knew that Obama had secretly hosted three screenings in the White House, but they weren’t invited. DreamWorks ran a patriotic campaign that the media and moviegoers gobbled up. The best director race had the most drama. Hollywood dreaded
Steven Spielberg, Best Director nominee for Lincoln, and wife Kate Capshaw
Les Miz’s Amanda Seyfried
Jessica Chastain, Best Actress nominee for Zero Dark Thirty, with boyfriend Count Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo
Django Unchained, The Master and Silver Linings Playbook producer Harvey Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman
Spielberg losing to Ang Lee. Eventually, everyone was thrilled when Spielberg was anointed 2013 president of the Cannes jury the day after the awards show. The voters knew that the beloved Lee’s three-year boat ride was a technical miracle in 3D. Fox’s $595 million international box office blew in the win. Harvey Weinstein had three horses in the race and was the most talked-about. His loquacious Quentin Tarantino was a lock for Best Screenplay. Best Supporting Actor was a total toss-up, though, with a sentimental edge to Robert De Niro. Our government put the kibosh on Zero Dark Thirty,, with arrogant denials of “enhanced interrogation.” Even Senator Christopher Dodd could not help writer-producer Mark Boal, director Kathryn Bigelow, financier Megan Ellison and Sony Chairman Amy Pascal. Additional chatter was catalyzed by the cast of Les Misérables performing a historic one-time, live performance during Sunday’s broadcast. This was part of Oscar producers Craig Zadan’s and Neil Meron’s’s attempt to razzle dazzle us with an
homage to movie musicals, including their own Chicago. Les Miz was the most polarizing film in the race. This 27-year-old theatrical musical was seen by 60 million fans and the film’s cast became the talk of the weekend. Barbra Streisand’s, Streisand Adele’s and Shirley Bassey’s appearances also created high anxiety and a bloodbath for tickets . . . hence the hysteria created by DreamWorks’ messenger cutting the line. I checked into the The Beverly Hills Hotel, meticulously laid out my Valentino and Ralph Rucci gowns and hit the party circuit overdressed for life. Tom Ford threw a cocktail party in his Rodeo Drive sleek steel and glass store. He greeted Girls star Allison Williams with mentor/friend Rita Wilson, while her husband Tom Hanks was knee-deep in rehearsals for his Broadway debut in the late Nora Ephron’s Lucky Guy. Guests included Paramount chief Brad Grey with wife Cassandra, Cassandra Patty Clarkson, Anna Paquin, Anna Wintour’s daughter Bee Schaffer, Mario Testino, Henry Cavill, Tom Freston, Freston Crystal Lourd and Bryan Lourd. APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE |63
Valentino
Les Miz’s Hugh Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness
Barbra Streisand and Adele, winner for Best Original Song for Skyfall, at the Governors Ball Ang Lee, Best Director winner for Life of Pi, at the Vanity Fair Oscar party Anne Hathaway, Best Actress winner for Les Misérables, on the red carpet with Peggy Siegal looking on
ICM agent Hildy Gottlieb and her director-husband Walter Hill gave a dinner in their Spanish stucco-and-tile Beverly Hills home. Nominee Christoph Waltz, having won this year’s Golden Globe and Bafta Awards, had no clue that he was about to beat Tommy Lee Jones and Robert De Niro. Katie Holmes, a new client, was ushered around by manager John Carrabino. She was on her way to catch the red eye back to New York and her daughter Suri. Nine-year-old Quvenzhane Wallis, clutched a puppy handbag and stood on line to kibbitz with 90-year-old Don Rickles, holding court on a couch. Chris Tucker and Ray Romano flanked Rickles. Others schmoozing included Patty Hearst, Sidney Poitier, Mark Duplass, Emmy Rossum, Danny Huston, Julia Stiles and director Michael Mann. Les Miz director Tom Hooper and Eddie Redmayne, always joined at the hip, then dashed out to Malibu to Universal honcho Ron Meyer’s annual dinner for Vanity Fair’s Graydon Carter. Guests included Russell Crowe, Lorne Michaels, John Travolta and Barbra Streisand. Earlier in the evening Larry Gagosian hosted an art opening of Richard Prince’s cowboys paintings, which were all pre-sold. Now Larry’s annual art dinner was in full swing at Mr. Chow’s. I walked in late and made a full circle around the front room, waved to Giants owner Steve Tisch, director John Waters, photographer Terry Richardson and performance artist Marina Abramović. I entered the back room and greeted Elton John, David Furnish and Jeff Bezos who sat at a corner table. I slid onto a chair next to art collector/film producer Peter Brant, who was next to nominee Tommy Lee Jones. Jones is set to direct and co-star with Hilary Swank in The Homes64 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
man for Brant.
Friday, February 22nd Coming from a brunch at the Polo Lounge, Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti met me for lunch. They had just visited with their dear friend, Nancy Reagan, who at 91 is frail but her mind is still as sharp as a tack. They met me at Cecconi’s, where we were joined by Alexandra von Furstenberg and her boyfriend Dax Miller. I asked Valentino if Anne Hathaway was going to wear his couture dress she had chosen. He calmly said he didn’t know but that he had flown his tailor in from Rome for fittings. Unbeknownst to him, she was planning on wearing a gold-beaded vintage Dolce & Gabbana instead and later changed her mind when her stylist Rachel Zoe discovered it had been worn before. The British consul-general, Dame Barbara Hay, had a reception for England’s Oscar nominees at the British Residence. The cast of Les Miz were at the Dolby Theatre in rehearsal. Nominated producers Cameron Mackintosh, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Debra Hayward as well as James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli shivered as they sipped hot tea on the lawn. Ron Meyer, Adam Fogelson and Donna Langley invited me to the restaurant Lucques for Universal’s nominees. Straight from the airport, Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer landed at the party. She came to discuss red carpet strategy with me and to see heartthrob Eddie Redmayne. Lara then flew off to agent Ari Emanuel’s party at his Brentwood home for the William Morris Endeavor nominees. Valentino and Giancarlo waited for Anne and the cast who arrived flushed with excitement from rehearsals.
Hosts Graydon Carter and Anna Scott Carter at the Vanity Fair Oscar party
Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress winner for Silver Linings Playbook Halle Berry at the Vanity Fair Oscar party
I begged my best friend Tom Hooper to take me to Saturday’s dress rehearsal. He laughed, saying it took him days to get his own credentials and he said, “Fuhgeddaboudit.” I made a note to call the president of the Academy, Hawk Koch, the next morning to get in. I asked Anne if she was planning on wearing a Valentino dress. She told me no. I whispered that into Mr. Valentino’s ear. He was very gracious and said he has had so many red carpet moments that Anne should wear what she wants.
Talent nominees. Dancing up a storm were Naomi Campbell, Mark Ruffalo, John Leguizamo, Kirsten Dunst, Daniel Radcliffe, Rashida Jones, Jerry Bruckheimer, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Brian Grazer, Warner Bros.’ Kevin Tsujihara, Viacom’s Philippe Dauman and CBS’ Les Moonves.
ext stop was Warner Bros.’ celebration for it’s nominees at the Soho House. Ben Affleck was holding court in the garden between Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber, who portrays the Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor. I huddled with George Clooney to discuss The Monuments Men, a movie he is directing in Berlin about the Nazis’ theft of art owned by Europe’s Jews. I asked him, “Who dies?” He said, “Two Jews, one Frenchman.“ I asked, “Who is the Frenchman?” He said, “Jean Dujardin.” I asked, “How?” He said, “I shoot him.” I asked, “How many takes?” He said, “Thirty-five.” I said, “Justice will be served.“ He smiles and nods knowingly. This is Clooney’s sweet revenge toward Dujardin, who beat him last year for Best Actor without uttering a word. Jim Berkus had a party in his home in Beverly Hills for the United
I made my annual trek to the Academy for the sold-out Foreign Language Film Nominees Symposium, a somewhat intellectual conversation among all five nominated foreign directors, hosted by Mark Johnson. Ang Lee made a charming introductory speech about his history with the Academy. This appearance cemented his win Sunday night. Last year Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg did not have their annual family picnic for Graydon Carter because they were renovating the house on Cold Water Canyon, so everyone went to the Independent Spirit Awards under a tent in Santa Monica. This year both lunches were inconveniently held at the same time. Barry got the powerful who hire the independent filmmakers. The Spirit Awards got the talented who want to grow up to be anyone who gets invited to Barry’s lunch. The house has been transformed into a modern temple of earth-tone stones and glass walls by Francois Catroux. Barry and Diane greet guests on the concrete steps as they wander into the massive building in awe of money so tastefully spent. Everyone wears earth-tone, beatup clothes on this perfect sunny day.
n
Saturday, February 23rd
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE |65
Top: Christoph Waltz, Best Supporting Actor winner for Django Unchained; Bottom: Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Poppy Delevingne and Kate Bosworth in Chanel dresses at the Chanel Pre-Oscars Dinner
Diane’s kids Alexander and Tatiana von Furstenberg always cohost for the young. There was a substantial herd of kinder and preteens playing tag on the hilly lawn. Alexandra von Furstenberg, Anna Scott Carter, a very pregnant Georgina Chapman, Ginevra Elkann, Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborra-Lee Furness and Wendi Murdoch are some of the devoted mommies. Moguls mingled, while patiently waiting on line for lunch and jockeyed for position at the brightly clothed picnic tables. The smorgasboard of fame in attendance were; Rupert Murdoch, Harvey Weinstein, Warren Beatty, Tom Brokaw along with George Stevens, Jr., Jim Gianopulos, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Tobey Maguire, Henry Kravis, Sandy Gallin, Jeff Berg and his brother A. Scott Berg, who has a spent ten years writing a biography of Woodrow Wilson that will be published this fall. Directors Gus van Sant and Simon Curtis chowed down. Lawyers Burt Fields and Allen Grubman chatted up clients. Producer Irwin Winkler talked about his film with Scorcese, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Jeremy Thomas described his Best Foreign Film nominee, Kon-Tiki. Hugh Jackman was wildly impressed I wormed my way into his dress rehearsal that night. He said security was so tight that they practically strip searched him on the way in. I said, “With you, they have good reason.” Jackman did not exaggerate the thoroughness of the interrogation at the Dolby Theatre. Koch’s assistant was glued to my hip as she ushered me down nondescript hallways. Behind her back, I slipped into the ornate Green Room complete with chandeliers and fancy wallpaper and met Les Miz French writer/composer Claude-Michel 66 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Schonberg. He told suspicious guards, “She is with me.” Jackman and Redmayne spotted me as they were about to go on and rolled their eyes knowing wild horses could not keep me out. In the audience I was next to Cameron Mackintosh who had personally paid to fly in an additional 24 chorus kids from London to add to the 24 Universal sponsored. The iconic music began and everyone got goose bumps. The set cracked open and Hugh swept out singing Suddenly followed by Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen, until the whole theater was reverberating with One Day More.
i
stood in the garage with Sasha Baron Cohen’s wife, Isla Fisher. She had brazenly filmed the number on her iPhone. Redmayne came dashing out disheveled and Isla pulled him aside. She replayed the video and gave him stage direction. The Anne Hathaway dress drama continued. Anne texted Valentino that day that she did plan on wearing his dress, only to find out at tonight’s rehearsal that Amanda Seyfried had a similar one.
At Charles Finch and Chanel’s annual pre-Oscar dinner at Madeo gorgeous girls were dressed in Chanel. The best invites always say come for a hot meal and we will put a $20,000 dress on your back. Those that happily ate in Chanel were Jessica Chastain, January Jones, Kate Bosworth, Poppy Delevinge, Felicity Jones, Rosie Hun-
Top: Amy Adams, Best Supporting Actress nominee for The Master; Bottom: Tory Burch
Top: Lapo Elkann; Bottom: Rupert and Wendi Murdoch
tington-Whiteley, Chloe Moretz, Emily Mortimer, Andrea Riseborough, Gia Coppola and Charles’ wife Sydney Finch. Bob and Harvey Weinstein gave a private cast dinner at the Soho House for Leonardo DiCaprio, Amy Adams, Joaquin Phoenix, Quentin Tarantino, Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert DeNiro, Chris Tucker, Kerry Washington, Jackie Weaver and David O. Russell. At the stroke of 10 pm the flood gates opened and five hundred industry types descended on the club. I paid my respects and fled back to The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Sunday, February 24th A missed tradition, started by the late Claudia Cohen was her brunch by The BHH pool where you performed your best weekend gossip for Graydon Carter. This year’s gab fest takes place at Bruce Weber’s table, with Cornelia Guest, Sandy Brant and Ingrid Sischy. Ingrid had been huddled outside the hotel gym all morning in her sweats, as she clutched her cell phone and whispered some crisis management advice to Elton John. Ensconced in the Frank Sinatra Suite, Russell Crowe was now in the coffee shop eating eggs but this group was more interested in who was going to win. At the next table, Lapo Elkann and his sister Ginevra, with her two kids, were all wearing large, iridescent-green sunglasses that
Elkann had designed. They looked like elegant aristocratic bugs with a patina of old money. I went to the 85th Academy Awards with Oscar strategist, Lisa Taback. We passed SWAT teams, sniffing dogs, hovering helicopters and screaming fans. Like ol’ pros we ended up on the mother of all red carpets in front of GMA’s Lara Spencer. We discussed stopping by Clooney’s private party at Craig’s later and ranked the perfect sculptured bodies and fake breasts. The most famous people in the world tried to do as many interviews as possible. We distracted the stars from this ritual with small talk, as a security guard was sent over to push us down the carpet. The more we shuffled, the more abusive he became and threatened to throw us out. This did not stop us from congratulating Daniel Day Lewis before he won. We chatted up Michael Douglas about playing Liberace in Behind the Candelabra. Catherine Zeta-Jones, forever curvaceous, was dressed as an Oscar as she gave sound bites to TV crews. We kissed Anne Hathaway and asked, “Who are you wearing?” “Prada,” she said. I suggested to her father Jerry that he buy her that Tiffany diamond necklace after she wins, imitating the late Bruce Paltrow’s generosity to his daughter Gwyneth after her own big night. Not sure I was kidding, her mother Kate sweetly said, “We have something for her.” We stepped on Amy Adams’ Oscar de la Renta silver-ruffled train. We stared deeply into Halle Berry’s dress to see if she was real. We touched Jennifer Lawrence’s amazing Dior skirt when she was not looking, and we embraced every studio head in hopes of a job next week. Usher number 85 now screamed at us, and we finally ran away. The shocker of the night was the appearance by Michelle Obama, via satellite from the White House, backed by a collection of random military personnel, as she gave out the Best Picture award. There was stunned silence at the Vanity Fair dinner, which was a room full of rich Democrats who put Mrs. Obama’s husband in office. The idea of the First Lady supporting Hollywood was terrific. If only Lorne Michaels had produced. She would have appeared live from the Lincoln Bedroom, with the CIA knocking on her door with the envelope. Finally I pulled up to the Vanity Fair party at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Every Oscar winner was now in the room clutching their golden guy. I congratulated Ang Lee and teased him about being able to buy anything. He told me he is a simple man and a true artist with no need for yachts and private planes. Graydon Carter’s amazing team, Sara Marks, Matt Ullian and Beth Kseniak brilliantly tended to guests. Some of Carter’s closest friends that made the night include every single person already mentioned and Bradley Cooper, Ronald Perelman, Judd Apatow, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Tory Burch, Aaron Sorkin, Jeff Klein, Fran Lebowitz, Jean Pigozzi and Amour winners Michael Haneke, Michael Barker and Tom Bernard. It’s 2 am. The lights come up. The magic is over. The waiters are cleaning up, and Ang Lee and I are the last ones eating sliders and still chatting.
Monday, February 25th Peter Brant and Stephanie Seymour gave Bob Colacello, Stavros Niarchos, his girlfriend Jessica Hart and me a ride back to New York. Stephanie slept. Peter, Bob and I rehashed the weekend. This was an amazing year for great films. The campaigns were exhausting and endless. It felt like the end of camp. The war was over. I browsed the Internet on the way home and found a list of 40 films that will be in play for next year. I needed a nap. ✦ APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE |67
jewelry box
by
HALEY FRIEDLICH
BEST OF THE
Kwiat Emerald and diamond earrings from the Kwiat Vintage Collection. Kwiat, 725 Madison Avenue, 212.725.7777, www.kwiat.com
BAUBLES RED CARPETS ARE, more than anything, a glorious parade of the most drool-worthy jewels in the world. With awards season now past, who won which award is settled, but the excitement of who wore what lingers. Oscar-winner for Best Actress Jennifer Lawrence brought the term “dripping in diamonds” to life, with endless carats of Chopard diamond beads worn down the back of her Dior Haute Couture gown paired witha floral diamond ring and stunning diamond drop earrings (pictured in the next spread). Meanwhile, the dazzling Jessica Chastain literally rocked the entire season in Harry Winston diamonds (also pictured in the next spread). Statement jewels had a place in more ways than one: Colored diamonds, intricate earrings and collar necklaces were seen throughout the season, while stars like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Katy Perry took the trend more literally and signed on to Lorraine Schwartz’s charitable endeavor (on opposite page). And of course, emerald green is the color of the year for 2013. And so, emeralds worked together with diamonds in rings, necklaces and earrings, to add a pop of color to the (also trending) pale, solid gowns.
T
HIS HUE SATURATED THE CATWALKS AND WAS NAMED PANTONE’S COLOR OF THE YEAR. EMERALDS ARE A SHOW-STOPPING WAY TO SHOWCASE THE GREEN TREND.
H. Stern Nature necklace with green tourmalines and diamonds necklace. H.Stern, 645 Fifth Avenue, 212.688.0300, www.hstern.net
Gilbert Albert One-of-a-kind ring set with “petits cônes” in yellow gold with diamonds and pear-shaped emeralds. Gilbert Albert, 43 West 57th Street, 212.759.9220, www.gilbertalbert.com 68 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Leviev Emerald and diamond ring. Leviev, 700 Madison Avenue, 212.763.5300, www.leviev.com
Chanel Fine Jewelry Parade earrings with diamonds and multicolor sapphires. Chanel Fine Jewelry, 733 Madison Avenue, 212.535.5828, www.chanel.com
H. Stern Maxima diamond earrings. H.Stern, 645 Fifth Avenue, 212.688.0300, www.hstern.net
S
TATEMENT EARRINGS CAN BE THE STAR OF ANY OUTFIT. COLORS, DRAMATIC DANGLING PIECES AND PLAYFUL FIGURES ALL DO THE TRICK WHEN WORN IN A VARIETY OF STUNNING STONES. Chopard floral cluster earrings with pear-shape rubellite drop, rubies and white diamond pavé in 18-karat white and rose gold. Chopard, 709 Madison Avenue, 212.223.2304, www.chopard.com
Leviev Yellow diamond earrings. Leviev, 700 Madison Avenue, 212.763.5300, www.leviev.com
Van Cleef & Arpels Nocturne earrings. Van Cleef & Arpels, 744 Fifth Avenue, 212.644.9500, www.vancleefarpels.com
Lorraine Schwartz and 12-year-old Jozlin One-of-akind Flower-inspired gem earrings. Lorraine schwartz collabortated with patients from Children’s National Medical Center to create fine jewelry pieces worn on the red carpet by celebrities who include Beyoncé (who wore the pair pictured), Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. Pieces were then auctioned to benefit Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research. For more information: www.gabriellesangels.org APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 69
BEST OF THE
BAUBLES Jeffrey Rackover Diamond drop earrings. Jeffrey Rackover, 589 Fifth Avenue, 212.644.3838
De Beers Aura pear-shaped diamond earrings. De Beers, 703 Fifth Avenue, 212.906.0001, www.debeers.com
Harry Winston Diamond round wire earrings with pink accent. Harry Winston, 718 Fifth Avenue, 212.399.1000, www.harrywinston.com
Chopard Pear-shape white diamond drop earrings set among rose-cut diamonds. Chopard, 709 Madison Avenue, 212.223.2304, www.chopard.com
D
ROP EARRINGS CREATE A GLIMMERING FOCUS POINT. THEY SHOW OFF LARGER STONES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE TOO HEAVY AND HELP DIAMONDS POP IN FRONT OF LONG HAIR.
70 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Leviev Tanzanite and diamond earrings. Leviev, 700 Madison Avenue, 212.763.5300, www.leviev.com
De Grisogono One-of-a-kind white diamond and blue sapphire necklace, De Grisogono, 824 Madison Avenue, 212.439.4220, www.degrisogono.com
S
MALL AND DELICATE DIAMONDS CAN BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WORK TOGETHER IN LARGE TEAMS OF PAVÉ OR LAYERS.
Van Cleef & Arpels Cosmos ear clips. Van Cleef & Arpels, 744 Fifth Avenue, 212.644.9500, www.vancleefarpels.com
H. Stern in partnership with Diane von Furstenberg Bracelet sutra in white gold with white diamonds, bold size. H.Stern, 645 Fifth Avenue, 212.688.0300, www.hstern.net
Chanel Fine Jewelry Franges Solaires ring. Chanel Fine Jewelry, 733 Madison Avenue, 212.535.5828, www.chanel.com
De Beers Pavé bangles. De Beers, 703 Fifth Avenue, 212.906.0001, www.debeers.com APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 71
cityscape
The Next Big Thing
JEFF BLAU got his start in the real estate business at a young age. He worked for his father—a contractor and developer— during summers, weekends and vacations as a high school student in Woodbury, NY. He then went on to the University of Michigan where he began buying and renting out student housing and, in the process, was introduced to Related Companies’ chairman (and fellow Michigan alum) Stephen Ross. He was offered a summer job at Related and after graduating from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, stepped into a full-time role. Twenty-four years later, he is still with the company and they have both grown up quite a bit. by Haley
Friedlich portrait by Jessica Nash 72 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
What was your original position at Related once you had a full-time job at the company? I started as a financial analyst. I did a lot of the grunt work—this was 24 years ago and the company was much smaller. It was right at the beginning of a pretty bad time in the world, 1990–1992; we had a slowdown in [the market]. I would say it was a very pivotal moment in my career. You reflect back on those times as cycles change, and you can realize what you did the last time, and learn from your experiences. What was the path like, to becoming Related’s CEO? Well, there were a lot of years between: The company really grew over the years from ’92 on; we rode a pretty strong wave of growth in the economy and in New York City, and growth in our business. I moved up the ranks over the years and became president in 2000. And then I became CEO just this past year. What were some of your earlier projects? The company’s background is actually in affordable housing. We continue to do a tremendous amount throughout all of our offices and our portfolio. On the retail side, I did a very small deal down on 17th Street and Union Square, where Barnes & Noble is currently located; it was a historic building. That really got us entrenched in the Union Square market. We did a lot of what’s called 80/20s, or rental buildings that are 80 percent market and 20 percent affordable—buildings like the Strathmore, the Monterey, One Carnegie Hill, the Tate, the Caledonia, and the Chatham. We have built those throughout the city and became one of the largest developers of that product. How did you end up developing the Time Warner Center? We wound up competing for the Time Warner Center starting in 1997 and won it in ’98. It was 2.8 million square feet, and a $2 billion deal. I think that really changed the perception of Related as an organization in New York and around the world. It’s really become a calling card for us. The retail has become, if not the first, the second highest-grossing persquare-foot retail sale in the country, when everyone said vertical retail would never work in New York City. The most notable since then is Hudson Yards. We entered the competition for Hudson Yards in 2008 and we ultimately won against several other nationwide developers. Hudson Yards is by far the largest private development ever
done in this country. It’ll be 15 million square feet on 26 acres along the West Side of Manhattan. It came out of [Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s] vision for allowing New York City to become the great commercial center that it should be, and the question of, “How do we attract large corporations here?” And Hudson Yards will be the solution? Basically, what’s happened is our office stock is much older than [that of] competitive cities around the world—the statistic is like 60 percent of our office stock in New York City is over 50 years old. And if you just think about how technology has advanced and how our workplace has changed over time, New York really hasn’t kept pace with that. The Mayor’s vision was to rezone the West Side of Manhattan—from 30th Street to 42nd Street—as a new commercial core for commercial development, and to bring the Number 7 subway line over to the West Side, open it up, and connect it to Grand Central. That subway has now been installed and will become operational next
“IT came ouT oF [mayor mIcHael BloomBerg’s] vIsIoN For allowINg New york cITy To Become THe greaT commercIal ceNTer THaT IT sHould Be.” year. Hudson Yards will be 15 million feet of office and retail space, 5,000 residential units, a school, a cultural facility. Then half of it will be open space: 13 acres of parks. So it’s really going to be a new center for New York City. How will these buildings have a modern, technological edge? First, they are state-of-the-art in terms of power efficiency. They’re all green buildings; LEED-certified Gold buildings with backup power and backup technology, and they’ll have CoGen plants on site, so if there’s ever an outage or anything like that, these buildings will keep running. They’re all high above the floodplain, so the mechanical systems in the lower levels can survive any kind of flooding like we had during Hurricane Sandy. Then they will be
hyper-, hyper-efficient in terms of floor-plate size and column spacing. Companies relocating to Hudson Yards will take about 80 percent of the square footage they are taking in existing buildings. So it’s a combination of “healthier” buildings in terms of environment and understanding what kinds of building people want to live in. Plus there will be 500,000-plus square feet of retail, restaurants, bars, activity—that’s part of the complex. Tenants and visitors can go downstairs and enjoy all that and they can go up to the observation deck—there will be a new private dining concept from Danny Meyer up there. Really, this will become a new center for New York. What are some of the challenges of developing Hudson Yards? What was great about Hudson Yards: It was 26 acres [of unused land]. It poses its own challenges because we’re building over active rail yards. So we, in effect, have to build our own land. But at least you didn’t have the issue of other towers or rent-control tenants there to prevent development. But, really—building the deck [over the rail yard] is a Herculean task. It comes with its own unique set of challenges. And then you have a condo building going on the market this spring: One Madison Park. Can you tell me about that? We started a fund management business, through which we raised and manage about $2 billion in institutional capital. So through the Related Recovery Fund, we purchased the mortgage on that building—which was a failed condo—and we took it through bankruptcy, and now we’re finishing construction, and we’re going to start sales in a couple of months on that. It will be one of the highest-end, forsale products on the market—with incredible 360 degree views—floor-to-ceiling glass; very, very high-end finishes; and a great location. What has been either your pet project or a project that really stood out to you as a favorite? Definitely Hudson Yards and the Time Warner Center. Hudson Yards in particular because it’s so city changing. It’s something that’s never been done in this country before. To have the opportunity to build 15 million square feet in one place, essentially at one time, that’s unheard of, maybe around the world, and certainly in the U.S. Bringing together the talent that we need to do that, signing on all the tenants, and the retailers and hotel—it’s just incredible. This is going to be something I look back on in ten years and say, “Wow.” ✦ APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 73
a-list broker
1049 Fifth Avenue 16B—one of Staab’s exclusive listings—has four bedrooms with panoramic park and reservoir views.
What distinguishes you from others in your field? What expertise/experience do you bring to the table? Sharing the same lifestyle as my clients gives me a huge advantage. I am able to strongly connect with them, understand their needs, provide them with a high comfort level, and give them the certainty they must have that they will get the best results. Because I’m always looking for ways to improve my level of service, I just launched my website, CarolStaab.com, where buyers and sellers can search for all firms’ New York City listings, and beyond. In addition, I publish The Pulse on Manhattan Residential Real Estate, which provides valuable luxury market and lifestyle news.
Carol Staab
Senior Vice President, Douglas Elliman
575 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 Office: 212.891.7205 Mobile: 917.273.7787 Email: carol.staab@elliman.com 74 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Detail for us some of the new and exciting listings you’re currently representing. Presently I am honored to be exclusively representing three apartments at 1049 Fifth Avenue, ranging from over $2 million for a 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment to over $13 million for a 3,335-square-foot, four-bedroom apartment offering panoramic Central Park and Reservoir views. I am happy to say that one of them is currently in contract. Tell us a shining moment in your professional career. I recently had the opportunity to sell a loft on Spring Street in SoHo. With creative marketing I was able to sell it for a record price in the building in less than 90 days. How do you spend your free time? I devote a lot of my time to the Central Park Conservancy. In April, my husband and I will be hosting a fundraising event, “Cocktails on Central Park,” for the Conservancy, in our Fifth Avenue apartment.
3295 NORTH SAVANNAH PLACE $3,700,000
3300 WINDSOR BOULEVARD $3,100,000
10640 SAVANNAH DRIVE $2,995,000
3485 NORTH SAVANNAH PLACE 5 BEDROOMS, 5 FULL AND 1 HALF BATHS
$5,895,000
Every room in this elegantly relaxed residence expands into private outdoor living areas with breathtaking golf and lake views. An airy sophisticated living room with fireplace is at the home’s center and opens, through sets of French doors, to separate and distinct courtyards. This exceptional home also features a large and superbly conceived kitchen with an adjoining handsome bar and custom wine room.
A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL SPORTING CLUB 772 388 8400 OR 800 233 7656 VERO BEACH, FLORIDA WWW.WINDSORFLORIDA.COM
10701 BELVEDERE SQUARE $2,195,000
LAKEFRONT ESTATE 7 Bedrooms, 8 Baths, 5 Half Baths
$34,900,000 LAKEFRONT MEDITERRANEAN WEB: 0075170 6 Bedrooms, 6 Baths, 2 Half Baths
$12,900,000 WEB: 0075470
EXTRAORDINARY PALM BEACH PROPERTIES CRISTINA CONDON | 561.301.2211 | cristina.condon@sothebyshomes.com
EXQUISITE CLARKE AVE. RENTAL NORTH LAKE WAY $40,000/Mo. Annual | WEB: 0075554 $8,800,000 | WEB: 0075474 5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths 8 Bedrooms, 9 Baths, 3 Half Baths
IN-TOWN CHARM $7,800,000 | WEB: 0075947 7 Bedrooms, 7.5 Baths
ONE WATERMARK $3,900,000 | WEB: 0075945 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths
BELLARIA PENTHOUSE $4,955,000 | WEB: 0075599 3 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths
EXTRAORDINARY PENTHOUSE $10,000,000 | WEB: 0075681 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, 2 Half Baths
CRISTINA CONDON | cristinacondon.com PALM BEACH BROKERAGE | 340 Royal Poinciana Way, Ste 337 | Palm Beach, FL 33480 | 561.659.3555 Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
80 COLUMBUS CIR | Web: A0017969 | $50,000,000 The Residence at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, NY. Grand penthouse with 4825± sq ft and spectacular views. B. Powers, 212.606.7653 | E. Sample, 212.606.7685
1148 FIFTH AVE | Web: A0018084 | $6,945,000 Two apartments can be combined to create a sprawling 16 room duplex residence. Royce Pinkwater | 212.606.7718
15 UNION SQ WEST | Web: A0018640 | $6,750,000 Spacious 2 bedrooms, 2 ½ baths with private 300± sq ft terrace overlooking Union Square Park. M. Sakamoto, 212.606.7676 | T. Cauthorn, 212.606.7679
220 RSB | Web: A0018740 | $6,495,000 Enjoy breathtaking sunsets in this grand 4 bedroom, 5 bath condominium on the Hudson River. L. Maysonet, 212.606.7603 | G. Kabol, 212.606.7606
350 EAST 82ND ST | Web: A0018104 | $4,595,000 4 bedroom, 3½ bath with over 1,500± sq ft of planted terrace. Sun-drenched North, East and West views. Leah Kelly, 212.606.7724 | Eric Roche, 212.606.7769
SINGLE FAMILY | Web: A0018791 | $4,300,000 Four story townhouse off Beekman Place. Features high ceilings, fireplace and garden. Needs renovation. Kathy Hoffman Linburn | 212.606.7791
LocaL ExpErtisE. Extraordinary rEsuLts. our agents are skilled professionals with local knowledge and a dedication to high-quality service for every client. they take great pleasure in discovering the aspects that make each home unique.
781 FIFTH AVENUE | Web: A0017864 | $2,395,000 The Sherry Netherland. Glamorous 1 bedroom aerie in the Hotel Rental Pool. Ultimate pied-a-terre. S. Ponte, 212.606.4109 | R. Gianopulos, 212.606.7622
100 WEST 18TH ST | Web: A0018792 | $2,250,000 2 bedrooms, 2 baths condo with open city views. Abundance of light with South, East & West exposures. K. Harounian, 212.606.7616 | D. Peltz, 212.606.7635
134 EAST 93RD ST | Web: A0018755 | $1,850,000 Immaculate 3 bedrooms, 3 baths condo with N, S and W exposure, high end workmanship and superior finishes. Vannessa Kaufman | 212.606.7639
45 EAST 66TH ST | Web: A0018662 | $1,850,000 Meticulously restored elegant 4 room with 11’ ceilings, large new windows, unobstructed views, and fireplace. Katie Rosenberg | 212.606.7771
345 WEST 55TH ST | Web: A0018797 | $1,595,000 Traditionally renovated 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, maid’s room/office home in prewar co-op. Pauline Evans | 212.400.8740
422 EAST 72ND ST | Web: A0018621 | $895,000 Beautiful, mint high floor 3-room with river and city views facing East. Full service building with gym, pool and garage. Phyllis Gallaway | 212.606.7678
ManHattan BroKEraGEs i sothebyshomes.com/nyc East sidE | 38 East 61st street, new york, ny 10065 | 212.606.76601 downtown | 379 west Broadway, new york, ny 10012 | 212.431.2440 operated by sotheby’s international realty, inc.
We define our neighborhoods as much as they define us.
88 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10006 212.269.8888 730 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10019 212.242.9900
239 East 79th Street New York, NY 10075 212.929.1400
337 West Broadway, New York, NY 10013 212.924.4200 110 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10011 212.633.1000
45 Horatio Street New York, NY 10014 212.604.0300
26 Astor Place New York, NY 10003 212.584.6100
170 EAST END AVENUE
5 BR, 5.5 BATH
WEB ID: 833062
$9.995 M
15 WEST 11TH STREET
2 BR, 2.5 BATH
WEB ID: 111975
$4.0 M
845 UNITED NATIONS PLAZA 2 BR, 2 BATH
WEB ID: 285723
$1.6 M
40 MERCER STREET
3 BR, 3.5 BATH
WEB ID: 222030
$37,500 MONTH
5 EAST 16TH STREET
3 BR, 2.5 BATH
WEB ID: 864044 $27,500 MONTH
55 NORTH MOORE STREET
4 BR, 3 BATH
WEB ID: 969979
$23,000 MONTH
TOWN Residential, LLC is a licensed real estate broker and proud member of REBNY. Town Residential LLC is a partnership with Thor Equities LLC.
real estate
Properties of the Month The Corcoran group MODERN LuxuRy IN SAg HARBOR This six-acre playground offers ultimate privacy in a gorgeous natural setting. Play tennis on your own court, lounge around the heated granite pool, or spend time stocking your own pond with exotic fish. The stunning modern home has four bedrooms; a “great room” with fireplace; a formal dining room; Euro kitchen; full-floor master suite with fireplace; a den; office; dressing room; marble bath; and multiple decks with views of the spectacular property. The pool cabana/game room has a bar, wine refrigerator and ice maker. Also offered are a two-car garage and room for expansion and/or out buildings. And the property has a terrific price: $3.6 million, at corcoran.com web # 53877. Contact Mala Sander @ 917.902.7654
Town Residential LuxuRy RIvERfRONT LIvINg Architect Peter Marino had entertaining in mind when he designed the graciously-appointed residences at this riverside New York City address. Intimate outdoor parties and large-scale gatherings alike suit this fivebedroom, 5.5-bath home, which spans more than 5,000 square feet and boasts 325 square feet of terraces. The formal living room and dining room overlook Gracie Mansion, Charles Schulz Park and the East River. Building amenities include a squash court, screening room, golf simulator, and 24-hour concierge. $9.995M. Contact Adam Taylor @ 646.998.7447
Sotheby’s International Realty ONE WATERMARK One Watermark Place, prized for its impeccable service and extraordinary amenities, is one of the most outstanding condominium residences in the Palm Beach area. This beautifully designed four-bedroom, 4.5-bath apartment, with spectacular Intracoastal Waterway and Palm Beach Island views from every major room, offers 6,437 total square feet of living space, with four scenic terraces. From the master suite, which includes its own library and fireplace, to the beautifully equipped kitchen, this is a very special residence indeed. $3.9 million. Contact Cristina Condon @ 561.301.2211
80 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Marilyn Corradini
Scott Harris
DUPLEX PH CENTRAL PARK WEST
GRAND CONDOMINIUM ON PARK
MINT RIVERSIDE TOWNHOUSE
West 60s/CPW. Co-Excl. Rare opportunity. Grand duplex penthouse with 2 large terraces. Majestic Central Park views. 5,000 +/- SF. 7BR suites. 3 fireplaces. Dramatic entertaining expanse. $35M. WEB# 3476114. John Burger 212-906-9274
West 60s/Park Avenue. Never before offered, this majestic 4,500SF condo with stunning views, 10.5’ ceilings, 4 fireplaces, and a richly paneled library is magnificently appointed. $20.5M. WEB# 1749069 Kathy Sloane 212-906-9258
West 88th Street/RSD. Rarely found 7-story, 9,400SF single family townhouse renovated to perfection. Elevator, penthouse gym, chef’s kitchen, 5 terraces, 100’ long cellar rec room. $15.5M. WEB# 3607706. Wolf Jakubowski 212-588-5630
Ann Jeffery
Lisa Lippman
Stephanie Rappoport
PERFECTION ON JANE STREET
ENORMOUS FULL FLOOR LOFT
DOWNTOWN LOFT
West Village. Five story Greek Revival, 22.5’ TH w/patio and roof terrace. Elegant master retreat. 4FPs.Turn-key lux greets the discerning buyer on every floor. $12.5M. WEB# 3547649. Anne Collins 212-906-0510 Douglas Bellitto 212-906-0542
West 17th St/Seventh Ave. 5,664SF condo, 5BR, 4 baths, 4 open expos, flexible open layout, chef’s kitchen, massive master bath, excellent light, huge windows, 2 entrys. $10M. WEB# 3528891. Maria Elena Scotto 212-906-9331 Edward F. Johnston, III 212-906-9284
TriBeCa. Amazing downtown loft in the heart of TriBeCa. Features include high ceilings, 40’ long walnut bookcases, a fireplace, a terrace, and a private garage. $6.93M. WEB# 1039207. Filipacchi Foussard Team 212-452-4468
Jill Roosevelt
Richard N. Rothbloom
Mary Rutherfurd
ENCHANTING 8-ROOM PREWAR CO-OP
PROFESSIONAL SPACE
ELEGANCE, PRIVACY AND A GARDEN
UES. 70th St/Lexington Ave in doorman bldg, open views from all main rooms. Living room and dining room/study with wbfp, 3BR, 3 baths, 2 maid’s rooms, 1 maid’s bath, pantry, renovated kitchen. Pets ok. $3.995M. WEB# 3756776. Armin B. Allen 212-396-5851
East 70s. Mint cond dental office with 5 fully equipped exam rms. Lrg reception area & waiting rm. 1.5 baths. Consulting rm, lots of storage, sound system & CAC. $2.5M. WEB# 3732156. Joyce L. West 212-906-9221 Cheryl Bassin 212-906-9201
UES. Serenity and style define this 7 room duplex. Pocket doors open into the parlor living room, a showcase of old world craftsmanship with soaring ceils. $1,949,500. WEB# 3638609. Leslie O’Shea 212-906-0563 Nadia Bartolucci 212-906-0522
new york city
the hamptons
pa l m b e ac h
All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker. Equal Housing Opportunity Broker.
Miriam Sirota
Sallie Stern
real estate
Properties of the Month Halstead Property AIRy uPTOWN OASIS Filled with natural light, this extraordinary triple-mint home is located in one of Manhattan’s premier residences, the Stanhope Apartment Hotel. Boasting views of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this apartment has a formal living and dining room as well as a beautifully appointed chef’s kitchen. The private living quarters include a handsome master bedroom suite with three large custom closets and a marble master bath. Wellproportioned additional bedrooms feature luxurious en suite baths, all overlooking quiet 81st Street, with a view on to landmarked building facades. $12.5 million. Contact Laurie Silverman @ 212.381.4262
Windsor Properties vERO BEACH PARADISE This gracious five bedroom, five and a half bathroom residence on an oversized corner lot combines fresh, contemporary sensibilities with classical design. The main entry, through an elegant foyer, stretches into a gallery overlooking the sunny pool courtyard. The sitting room opens up to the courtyard through a broad loggia with wood-burning fireplace. The ground floor also includes a guest suite and a handsome wood-paneled study. On the second floor, the spacious master suite enjoys views of both the courtyard and a tree-lined boulevard. Address: 3320 Windsor Boulevard, Vero Beach, FL 32963. $3,400,000. Contact Windsor Properties: @ 772.388.8400
Sotheby’s International Realty PROMINENT CONNECTICuT ESTATE Located at the end of a coveted town lane lies this home, in Washington, Connecticut, with unmatched provenance. Completely renovated in 2007 for a prominent family of the arts, the 7,500-squarefoot main home is flawlessly executed. Featuring Venetian plaster walls throughout, there are five bedrooms and six and a half baths, three fireplaces, dual master suites and an elevator. The 20-acre compound features heritage trees, a pool, tennis court and a one bedroom guest cottage. The distant views are breathtaking. Listed at $4,250,000. Contact Rick Distel @ 860.868.6933
82 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Ne w York Cit Y
n
ha mptoNs
n
h u d s o N va l l e Y
n
CoNNeCtiCut
n
New jerseY
PRiVATE FLOOR ON PARK / MidTOWN EAST Excl. Beautiful full flr 3 BR, 2.5 mrbl bths, FDR, wbf, EIK. $3.495M Web#2231148 Eva Penson, VP 212.381.3370
SEXY ROCK + ROLL PENTHOUSE / 90S WEST Excl. Coveted Ariel 4 bedroom. Triple mint 4,000SF duplex, 360 degree views, oversized chef’s kitchen, 3.5 baths, fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows, terrace. $12.5M. Web#3637718 Amelia Gewirtz, EVP 212.381.2219 / Andrew Phillips, EVP 212.381.2227
SPACiOUS SPLENdOR / UPPER EAST SidE Excl. Full floor, grandiose 4 BR, din/media room, EIK, F/S. $14.85M. Web#3791801 Dina Scheinman, SVP 212.381.2319
876 PARK AVENUE / EAST SidE Excl. Gorgeous 9 room prewar, totally renov, elegant details and finishes $6.995M. Web#3774774 Nicole S. Barr, VP 212.381.3319
JEWEL iN THE SKY / 70S EAST Excl. Mint 4 BR. Stunning views, 2 balconies, windowed EIK, W/D, 4 baths. $3.595M Web#3554660 Lisa Holland-Davis, SVP/Bruce Davis, VP 212.381.3380/3331
HOME BY THE SEA / dARiEN, CT Serene waterfront estate on 3.164 manicured acres with spectacular water views, pool and a private dock. 12,000 square feet of eloquence.$15.9M. Web#99004969 Eileen B. Hanford 203.253.0995
Winner Best Overall WeBsite Of 2013 Awarded by Halstead Property, LLC We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin. All information is from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, prior sale or withdrawal without notice. No representation is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate and all information should be confirmed by customer. All rights to content, photographs and graphics reserved to Broker.
The Right Broker Makes All the Difference. Over the past 30 years, Stribling brokers have successfully represented the world’s most discerning clients, offering an exceptional level of service, integrity and sophistication coupled with an in-depth understanding of the ever-changing real estate market. Stribling professionals embrace a wide range of tastes and styles, ensuring that each client is matched with the broker who can best assist them in buying or selling their home.
14 Room Townhouse Perfection
Park Avenue Terrace Lover’s Dream
Park and City Views from the Pierre Hotel
Elegant Prewar 11 Rm Riverfront Masterpiece
Impeccably-designed, renov elevator townhouse on the most desirable UES block. 5BRs, 5.5 bths, 3 fplcs & hi ceils. $17.9M.Web#1297691.D.DiLorenzo646-942-7327
3BR,2.5bthone-of-kindpenthsedplxwmultterrs,amazingvus.LRw12'ceils&WBFP,EIK,DR/librwterr.FSbldg wgym.$11M.Web#3553080.S.Ingram212-452-4453
First offer. An elegant 5-room home built to a grand scaleandofferingaluxuriouslifestylewithhotelservices. $8.5M. Web #3613034. C.Eland 212-452-4384
LR,library&MBRdirectlyontheE.River.FDR,4BRs,5bths, 2WBFPs&2staffrms.TopFSbldgwithgym.$7.395M. Web #1295394. Barbara Evans-Butler 212-452-4391
UES 3BR Penthse Condo w Vus & Terraces
Exquisite 5 Bedroom on East 72nd
BeautRenov3BR/3BthCarnegieHillCondo
UES Duplex with Garden To Die For
Panoramicviews,move-incond,3.5bths,EIK,10'ceilings, gas fireplace. The Empire w drmn, garage, gym, garden. $6.495M.Web#3668799.CathyTaub212-452-4387
9rmaptwMBRsuite&3-4addit'lBRs.ElegdblLR&libr both w WBFPs & FDR is perf for lrg-scale entertaining. $5.29M.Web#1166068.K.Henckels212-452-4402
Rarecomboof2aptscreatessprawling900sfdblbi-lvl LR convs back to 4th BR, while retaining space for DR/ libr.$3.65M.Web#3798067.N.Tela212-434-7075
4bedroom,3bathwith1800sfprivategarden.Luxury renovation+highceilings.$3.25M.Web#3830954. J.Lanyard212-434-7091/N.Grandelli212-585-4547
Dazzling Corner 3 Bedroom Condo
Emery Roth 424 East 52nd 3BR, 3 Bath
Sunny 2BR at Park Avenue & 58th
Condo w Full CP Views in Midtown West
BreathtakingviewsS,E,W.Minthiflr3BR,3bthcondo in E 50’s lux bldg, wndwd grmt kit, huge clsts, W/D. $2.85M. Web #3788897. M.Grau 212-452-4361
Renov prwr co-op. LR w WBFP, DR, opn EIK. MBR suite wWBFP,dressarea&mbth.HVAC,W/D.Mtinclelec. $1.995M. Web #1293825. R.Parachini 212-434-7081
Spac2BR,2bthwlrgloft-likeLR&dinarea.Extrahiceils.SS kitwgrancntrs.Allcashbldg.Walktoshops,restaurants, transp.$1.3M.Web#1285534.E.Lorenzo212-452-4411
Fullyrenov,o'sized1BRwflr-to-ceilwndwsatCPPlace.Bldg wpool,healthclub,partyrm.Sepsuitescanberentednightly.$1.45M.Web#3810522.J.Stockwell646-613-2615
A SAVILLS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE · EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY · STRIBLING.COM · UPTOWN 924 MADISON AVENUE 212 570 2440
River Views & Terraces in Legendary River House Grand & elegant 4BR, 4.5 bath co-op with inspiring river & city views. Private elevator landing, gallery, 32x25 ft LR w WBFP, 10 ft ceilings, elegant DR, oversized MBR suite & renovated EIK. Building w motor court, private lawn, in apt dining & catering available, staff rms for rent & private storage. $6.995M. Web #3803877. C.Arnot 212-452-4424
Soho 3759 SF Sprawling Full Floor Condo
40 Fifth Avenue Views and Light
Fort Greene, Brooklyn Italianate TH Beauty
Mint 2BR, 2 Bth Condo in Long Island City
Loftw10'ceilshasagrandentertainingarea,3BRs,4bths, study, open kit & family rm. $7.995M. Web #3639931. P.Browne 347-234-8709/J.Rowe 646-327-8792
2BR, 2 bth, beaut renov prwr home w WBFP, CAC, EIK, in the Village’s most eleg bldg. $3.295M. Web #3442620. C.VanAmburg646-613-2683/K.Wallison646-613-2658
4BR/3 bth 2-family townhouse w beautiful light, lrg rms, 5 working fplcs & rear garden. Delivered vacant. Co-excl. $1.975M. Web #3807221. V.Osborne 917-834-0411
New1100sfluxdvlpmtcondo.WingedBRs,hardwdflrs, W/D&pvt250sfbalcony.FSbldgwgym.Taxabatemt. $900K. Web #3566907. Nino Pepicelli 516-316-7438
CHELSEA 340 WEST 23RD STREET 212 243 4000 · TRIBECA 32 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 212 941 8420 · BROOKLYN 386 ATLANTIC AVENUE 718 208 1900
avenu e properties THE JUNGLE PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 233 List Road – PaLm Beach
The Ultimate Beach House! Absolutely stunning, light and bright 6 BR, 5 ½ BA. Freshly remodeled with fantastic floor plan. Perfect for entertainment with fabulous living spaces inside and out. Beautiful hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen and much more. Covered patio perfect for Al Fresco dining with built in BBQ and large pool.
exclusive - $3,880,000 Landmark oceanfront estate built in 1928 with extensive renovations now complete. Three buildings include main house, guest house and three car garage positioned on over an acre of sweeping lawns. First time offered in 22 years.
Representing Palm Beach’s Finest Properties Christian J. Angle 561-629-3015 cjangle@anglerealestate.com
Owner/Broker
LAWRENCE A. MOENS ASSOCIATES, INC.
245 Sunrise Avenue • Palm Beach, Florida 33480 Tel:(561) 655-5510 • Fax:(561) 655-6744 • moens@earthlink.net
AVENUE’s
Though information is believed to be correct, offerings are subject to errors, omissions, prior sale and withdrawal without notice.
UPCOMING SPECIAL REAL ESTATE SECTIONS:
May:
“Real Estate’s Most Talked About” (brokers and properties) and a suburban focus on Westchester in our annual Real Estate issue. We’re also excited to announce that, in June, July and August, AVENUE will increase our circulation, distributing 25,000 copies per month in the Hamptons, in addition to maintaining our presence in Manhattan
June:
“Best of the Hamptons” and a suburban focus on Connecticut in this Style-inspired summer issue.
July: “A-List Brokers” and “Summer Residences” in this Art-inspired issue, which includes our annual Hamptons A-List of the most powerful and influential individuals. August:
“Waterfront Properties” and “Homes With A View” in this Family-themed issue.
For more information, please contact: Susan Feinman, Associate Publisher, T: 914.714.5053, sfeinman@manhattanmedia.com
The LEADING
MEN of Real Estate APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 87
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
I have a very exciting new exclusive in Washington, Connecticut. Currently under construction, it is a magnificent shingle-style estate home set on 20 private acres, with sweeping views of Lake Waramaug and Kent Hollow. It is resplendent in detail and a once-in-a-lifetime location for a very discerning client. It is listed at $4,795,000. I also have a fantastic family compound on Candlewood Lake with an 8,500-square-foot award-winning home, tennis court, basketball court and the largest private beach on the lake. The bespoke design of this Victorian home is unmatched and is a truly executive residence, listed at $8,950,000. What’s the most unusual request(s) you’ve had to accommodate in order to make the sale? I think I’ll save the best for a book! Last year, we had to promise a lovely 94-yearold seller that my buyers would leave a specific shed door open each spring for the phoebes to return and nest. Also last year, I had to be sure that a stripper pole was removed from the master bedroom before the buyers would close. Important to note that these were two different transactions!
Rick Distel Associate Broker,
Litchfield Hills Sotheby’s International Realty 18 Titus Road Washington Depot, CT 06794 Office: 860.868.6933 Mobile: 646.417.2720 rick.distel@sothebysrealty.com What movie title would best describe you and/or your work style? The Karate Kid: He listened carefully, worked hard, practiced, paid attention to details, and got the job done, all while respecting his opponents. These principles are essential to my business as well. Tell us about a shining moment in your professional career. I was recently in Palm Springs and scheduled a meeting with the manager of the new Sotheby’s affiliate to discuss op88| AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
portunities to leverage our relationship. When I sat down with her, she began by admitting that she had already mentioned my name to her operations manager, whom I had met a few years back at a Sotheby’s event in Miami. He told her about my background and my dedication to the brand and gave me a resounding endorsement. It was unexpected and made my day.
In what profession could you see yourself, other than your present one? What attributes do you have that would make you particularly good in that field? I wouldn’t trade this career, but I could see myself running a restaurant. You need to be a strong leader in order to orchestrate a revolving cast of characters in that environment. There are high expectations, big egos to manage, and an unwavering focus on quality. Sounds familiar!
What are the qualities you possess that contribute to your success in the luxury real estate industry? I possess the optimum blend of soft and hard skills that drive me to be very good at what I do. I am at my core a people person—a prerequisite in this industry. I have a natural skill for marketing luxury. I’m strong when it comes to financial analysis and negotiation. It is a unique combination and essential to my success.
How do you spend your free time? I live on a 30-acre farm in Washington, Connecticut that dates to the 1700s, and my partner and I are focused on returning it to a working farm. We have a heritage fruit orchard, several acres of blueberries and raspberries and an expansive heirloom vegetable garden, and this year we are planting our first corn crop. We are big believers in self-sustenance and using organic, non-GMO heirloom seed.
Detail for us some of the new and exciting listings you’re currently representing.
Tell us something about you that people might be surprised to learn. I don’t wear pink and green every day.
DONNELLY MARKS
Did you have another profession prior to being in real estate? How has that prepared you, and/or given you an edge, for selling real estate? I was a podiatrist for ten years, and the empathy it required, along with the attention to detail, has helped tremendously. Tell us about a shining moment in your professional career. I am incredibly proud of being the top producer for Warburg 18 out of the past 20 years. Anything newsworthy to share with us? The birth of Estée, my second granddaughter and fifth grandchild. Nothing is more important to me and Renée, my wife, than family. Detail for us some of the new and exciting listings/projects you’re currently representing. Exclusives at 812 Fifth Avenue; 15 Central Park West; and a set of new townhouses which will be hitting the market soon. What’s the most unusual request you’ve had to accommodate in order to make the sale? Since I am a firm believer in feng shui and my clients know this, I have had to cleanse a space of spirits and energy from previous owners more than once.
Richard Steinberg
Executive Managing Director, Warburg Realty
654 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10065 Phone: 212.439.5183 Fax: 646.422.4000 rsteinberg@warburgrealty.com
What movie title would best describe you and/or your work style? Jerry Maguire, with Tom Cruise. What distinguishes you from others in your field? What expertise/experience do you bring to the table? My aggressive yet brutally honest approach gives my clients a sense of security in the transaction. This can be seen on HGTV’s Selling New York. What’s the most exciting part of your job? What keeps you going every day? Negotiating, negotiating and negotiating!
In what profession could you see yourself, other than your present one? What attributes do you have that would make you particularly good in that field? If I were not a broker, I would be an architect. I have already reinvented myself once—adaptability is one of my best characteristics. Tell us something about you that people might be surprised to learn. My feelings get hurt all the time. As strong as I seem on the outside, I am really a pussycat on the inside. How do you spend your free time? I golf, ski and exercise a lot. Renée and I see a lot of theater and movies. I am also on the board of Guild Hall in East Hampton. APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 89
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
What are the qualities you possess that contribute to your success? Honesty, morality and aggressiveness prove a formidable style.
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
network, earning me a reputation as an international client specialist. . . although I don’t like to limit myself. I have a proven track record working with international customers who may have more specific or unique requirements. The key to my success is my ability to communicate effectively with such a broad range of people and to act as their “bridge” to the New York market. I find myself providing a wide range of services that go well beyond just finding a property. I endeavor to be their most trusted go-to person for “all things New York,” and as such become their most invaluable resource.
Mark J. Cohen Vice President,
Brown Harris Stevens 445 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 Office: 212.906.9241 Mobile: 917.535.0478 mcohen@bhsusa.com How and when did you get involved in real estate? Growing up in a family with deep roots in real estate made it feel like I was always in the business, not to mention that it gave me the greatest teachers I could hope for. I started in marketing, working on the most exciting new developments in recent memory, leading to a stint in Dubai where I headed sales for the sovereign wealth fund and participated in a city being built before my eyes. But no city is quite like New York, and coming home armed with a great experience was a logical conclusion. I haven’t looked back and it has been the most rewarding path. The balance between creative and business elements of real estate ideally suits my personality. 90 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
What expertise/experience do you bring to the table? I believe my skills are ideally suited to this profession. I have a deep, almost innate, understanding of the market—its nuances and complexities—thus enabling me to better advise my clients. One of my strongest skills is performing intensive research. Today’s highly sophisticated customers expect you to provide backup with detailed and thoughtful analysis. They have more tools at their disposal than ever before, so as a broker, I must be able to fill in the blanks beyond the simplicity of what is easily found online. I must take it a step further to effectively interpret the data and augment it with a more complete story. Knowledge and information are critical to success. One must always be a step ahead or risk being left behind. Do you have any area of specialization that distinguishes you? I don’t necessarily specialize in a particular neighborhood or property type. I specialize in the customer. Because of my many years abroad—in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Dubai, Russia, Hong Kong, etc.—I have developed a very broad
Detail for us some exciting listings and recent achievements. It is hard to pinpoint any one that stands out above others; it’s constantly evolving. The excitement comes from the variety of listings and people with whom I work. I am very excited about my listing at the River House—not only is it one of the most stylish renovated apartments in the city, but every time I go to the building I feel transported to a truly special pocket of the city that doesn’t exist any more. I also love my listing at 141 East 72nd Street that is an incredibly beautiful full-floor in my dream location. In a completely different part of the city, I recently had a client purchase one of the more important apartments at 150 Charles Street, the ultimate luxury development that will completely redefine luxury living in the West Village. For me, it’s all about the variety. What’s the most unusual request you’ve had to accommodate in order to make the sale? A foreign client adhered to principals of Vastu shastra [an Indian form of feng shui] thus influencing his decision-making process. Let’s just say that my iPad proved to be an invaluable tool and I thoroughly enjoyed learning something new and interesting. What is the most exciting part of your job? Everything about it is exciting; variety, change, movement, negotiating, making people happy, success. . . but it’s the people that make it interesting. They always said I was a “people person,” and while It sounds trite, it is rewarding to work in a profession that lets me indulge my curiosity every single day.
Gary DePersia Senior Vice President, The Corcoran Group Office: East Hampton 51 Main Street East Hampton, NY 11937 Phone: 631.899.0215 Mobile: 516.380.0538 Fax: 631.256.9179 gdp@corcoran.com
What movie title would best describe you and/or your work style? The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. What distinguishes you from others in your field? What expertise/experience do you bring to the table? Over 17 years of listing, selling and renting properties from Southampton to Montauk and from Sagaponack to Shelter Island makes for a broad view of a complex market to better serve my clients and customers. Did you have another profession prior to being in real estate? How has that prepared you and/or given you an edge for selling real estate? I had a textile-brokering business in New York City. It seems like my whole life I have been brokering deals between buyers and sellers. Dealing with the very
Detail for us some of the new and exciting listings you’re currently representing. I am representing the first of two new contiguous estates to come online by Lifton Green—just six properties from the ocean in Wainscott. This sensational 11,000-square-foot residence on three levels of living space spanning two acres is one of the most complete estates available today so close to the ocean. It is now finished and ready for a new owner to furnish and be in residence in, well before the summer. In addition, I just listed an incredible 2.5 acre, 8,500-square-foot estate just one property back from the beach off of Further Lane in East Hampton with both tennis and deeded ocean access. challenging and sometimes aggressive mindset and personalities of the textile and garment industry gave me a very thick skin and has made problem-solving in my real estate business far easier. Tell us about a shining moment in your professional career. In 2011 I was both the listing and selling broker of the 55-acre waterfront oasis Tyndal Point, listed then for just under $45 million. The call from the buyer came from one of my many ads that I ran on this unique and challenging property. After weeks of negotiating, I organized a lunch meeting of the principals, who both lived in Florida, and myself, at the home of the buyer in Palm Beach. The sale was consummated, right after dessert, in his living room. I might mention that the buyer had yet to step foot on the property. That sale turned out to be the biggest in the Hamptons that year. What’s the most exciting part of your job? What keeps you going every day? Imagine showing an oceanfront Monday on Southampton’s Meadow Lane and then Tuesday taking the ferry to Shelter Island to show a spectacular horse farm, followed by a drive out to Montauk on Wednesday to see one of my oceanview listings, followed by an afternoon showing of a new spectacular estate I have on Town Line Road near the ocean in Wainscott. You see what I am getting at?
What’s the most common question you hear about the Hamptons? Whenever I tell people that I live in the Hamptons, invariably, the first question out of their mouths is, “You mean full time?” Many people not familiar with the Hamptons equate our area with being merely a summer haven. What could I possibly be doing there year round? Naturally I remind them that I have a fulltime business there. And then I go on to explain that the Hamptons are no longer just about the beach. We have become much more of a country getaway where people with busy lives elsewhere are investing more and more of their leisure time year round. I think many people who have bought houses in the last 10— 15 years are surprised themselves about how often they use them off-season. I believe part of the growing popularity of the Hamptons is that people justify their purchases knowing that they will be using their houses not just for the three months or so of the summer but for many other times during the year. Tell us something about you that people might be surprised to learn. When I first started in real estate, it was almost a year-and-a-half before I closed on my first sale. I always tell new brokers who come to me for advice to make sure they do not quit before they give themselves a chance to be successful. APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 91
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
The variety of properties and locations in the Hamptons is a constant motivation in and of itself. There is a diversity on the East End that is very exciting.
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
DONNELLY MARKS
of Machu Picchu. I met my wife in Bolivia. All of these incredible experiences have shaped the person I am today. What’s the most exciting part of your job? Creating opportunities in a tight market. Seeing the smiles on my customers’ faces when their apartment sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars over the asking price—or when my customer wins that best and final because we were more prepared than the next person. I love the flexibility my work allows, the fact that I am not chained to a desk and that I am my own boss. I also love that I can work from home, where I can be with my newly-born twins. What keeps you going? Waking up every morning next to my beautiful wife, raising five incredible children in New York City, and understanding that one day, I will have an insane amount of college tuition to pay.
Danny Davis TOWN Residential 26 Astor Place, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10003 Office: 646.588.4052 Mobile: 917.776.8564 Fax: 646.545.5930 ddavis@townrealestate.com What distinguishes you from others in your field? What expertise/experience do you bring to the table? In my 20 years in New York real estate, I’ve developed a credible knowledge of product, which in today’s market is essential for creating a lasting competitive edge. My time in the industry also has allowed me to establish relationships with developers and the brokerage community at large, as well as an incredible referral network that includes Hollywood A-listers, professional athletes, hedge fund principals and CEOs. I consider it very important to spend time with my customers, so they are 100-percent prepared even prior to see92 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
ing their first apartment. I pre-qualify every customer, so as not to waste my time or theirs. When that one special property comes up, they have everything in order, and are ready to win that best and final. In this frenetic market we are experiencing, where for every one good apartment there are six bids, having all your ducks in a row is essential. Did you have another profession prior to being in real estate? How has that prepared you, and/or given you an edge, for selling real estate? Growing up, my parents assured me I was a natural-born salesman—they used to tell me I could sell ice to an Inuit—but a well-rounded education definitely has contributed to my successes. I studied Middle Eastern politics and comparative religion at Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. A keen interest in learning about other cultures, religions and international politics, combined with a passion for geography and photography, led to my insatiable thirst for travel. I have been to more than 80 countries in the past 20 years, have trekked the jungles of Africa, lived in caves in India and hiked the trails
Tell us about a shining moment in your professional career. Last year, I signed nine contracts in six days—a first, and a definite career milestone. Anything newsworthy to share with us? In my first 11 months at TOWN, I transacted more than $80M in sales. Detail for us some of the new and exciting listings you’re currently representing. I have an incredible single-family townhouse at 49 Barrow Street, a prime West Village location. I also am involved in a new condo development in Tribeca. More details to come in a few months. Tell us something about you that people might be surprised to learn. My preferred method of travel is my mountain bike; I bike everywhere, between appointments and to and from the office. Biking keeps me healthy, gives me time to think, and keeps me from being lazy. Regardless of the season, whether it is below freezing and storming outside, or 102 degrees in the dead of summer, you will find me on my Trek. It’s not a shabby business strategy, either: Biking allows me to cover much broader territory than the average broker. There is not one street in this city I haven’t biked down.
Southampton oceanfront—price upon request.
Shelter Island waterfront—price upon request.
John McHugh
Vice President, Associate Broker
Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.
Detail for us some of the new and exciting listings you’re currently representing. I am currently representing two fabulous waterfront properties. One is a Southampton oceanfront home [pictured left, top] on 2.5 acres, originally designed by famed architect Norman Jaffe in 1986. It was completely renovated in 2007 by the current owner. It has roughly 8,500 square feet of living space with six en suite bedrooms. There is also an oceanside swimming pool and an all-weather tennis court. The other property is on Shelter Island [pictured left, bottom]. It is truly the crown jewel of waterfront property on the island. The custom-built 23,000 square-foot home sits on over 7.5 acres and faces West into Coecles Harbor. The home was completed in 2007 and no detail was spared. The shingle-style architecture reflects the island’s history while echoing elegant European countryside estates, hand-crafted by English, Italian and French masters. Antique reclaimed French stones are throughout, with radiant heat as well as floors of French white oak, and stone fireplaces imported from France. There is a deep-water dock, and the property is well protected by several hundred feet of bulkhead. Best of all, it is seaplane-accessible to your front door in 35 minutes from New York City.
Sotheby’s International Realty Southampton Brokerage 50 Nugent Street Southampton, NY 11968 Office: 631.227.4937 Mobile: 631.764.5723 john.mchugh@sothebyshomes.com
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 93
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
What movie title would best describe you and/or your work style? Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. Like the title, real estate doesn’t sleep, either. I am always thinking of new ways in which to better serve my clients and customers. Because of the spirited nature of my business, like Wall Street, I too must adapt to the ever-changing landscape. I always try to stay one step ahead. That means being creative. Even in my sleep, things are constantly popping into my head. Granted, I don’t get much real sleep.
PETER M. TURINO President
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
Peter Turino has been serving important clients and customers for 25 years. A three-term president of the Hamptons and North Fork Realtors Association, he has won the Realtor of the Year award multiple times. A graduate of Columbia University, he received his MBA from the University of Chicago.
27 Main Street • East Hampton, NY 11937 631.903.6115 • pturino@bhshamptons.com
JOHN VITELLO Senior Director
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons John’s vast knowledge of the local market and his acclaimed sense of design and diligence in providing buyers and sellers with up-to-date and accurate advice have made him a consistent top broker. He offers a creative, passionate and relentless approach to achieving success for his clients.
24 Main Street • Southampton, NY 11968 631.204.2407 • jvitello@bhshamptons.com
ELLIOT EPSTEIN Director
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons Elliot has over 35 years of experience in home purchase, renovation and sales. He offers a keen facility with financial matters and provides an invaluable resource for clients when negotiating, evaluating and weighing mortgage options.
24 Main Street • Southampton, NY 11968 631.204.2404 • eepstein@bhshamptons.com
JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons John is a veteran real estate broker with a proven track record and numerous sales awards. John’s professionalism, integrity, know-how and commitment are hallmark features of the way he conducts his real estate practice. John also hosts Real Life, a popular weekly public radio talk show.
96 Main Street • Sag Harbor, NY 11963 631.725.5585 • jchristopher@bhshamptons.com 94 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
CHRISTOPHER BURNSIDE Senior Director
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
Every year since 2000, Christopher Burnside has been the Bridgehampton office’s top producer in both sales and rentals. He specializes in new construction and land and investment properties. As a builder, he has thus far developed more than 12 luxury homes throughout the Hamptons.
2408 Main Street • Bridgehampton, NY 11932 631.537.4320 • cburnside@bhshamptons.com
AMADEUS EHRHARDT
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons A seasoned and creative businessman with an international background, Amadeus is dedicated to providing straightforward professionalism and knowledge of the marketplace. He is a strong communicator who utilizes his skills and integrity to develop relationships and facilitate negotiations.
96 Main Street • Sag Harbor, NY 11963 631.725.5577 • amadeus@bhshamptons.com
JIM OXNAM
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons Known as a detail specialist, Jim has developed a broad knowledge of and experience in selling properties in the Hamptons, with a particular expertise in East Hampton Village. With an impressive list of resources and contacts, he is one of Brown Harris Stevens’ most accomplished agents in both rentals and sales.
27 Main Street • East Hampton, NY 11937 631.903.6111 • joxnam@bhshamptons.com
PHELAN WOLF
Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons Phelan is a former practicing real estate attorney, who has participated in all aspects of hundreds of transactions. That background gives him the ability to anticipate and resolve issues of concern, to help guide the parties involved to smoothly and expeditiously close any sale. His market insight is reflected in frequent mentions in area newspapers.
27 Main Street • East Hampton, NY 11937 631.267.7110 • pwolf@bhshamptons.com APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 95
environment of the real estate marketplace and discussing ideas, trends and best practices with my 10 diversified associates.
THE LEADING MEN of REAL ESTATE
Tell us about a shining moment in your professional career. The successful sale of the estate of fashion designer Fernando Sánchez at the landmark Osborne. Three other brokerage firms failed to get the job done. This 4,500-square-foot apartment sold for the highest price ever at the Osborne during the height of the Lehman crisis. Anything newsworthy to share with us? Being the on-site real estate brokerage firm at The Lombardy Hotel on East 56th off of Park Avenue [a cooperatively owned hotel like the Sherry Netherland and The Carlyle] has led to a new dimension in business that is both residential and commercial at the same time, being both investor-and-foreign buyer-friendly.
Stephen Wald President,
Stephen P. Wald Real Estate Associates, Inc. The Lombardy Hotel 111 East 56th Street New York, NY 10022 Office: 212.750.WALD (9253) s.wald@waldrealestate.com
What distinguishes you from others in your field? What expertise/experience do you bring to the table? I listen to the wish lists of buyers with sophisticated tastes and strong demands and am able to narrow the focus to a sense of what is practical and foremost. With sellers, I have the ability to correctly price property, market creatively and meet sellers’ expectations for a timely 96 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
sale. I have 28 years of experience and knowledge of what the market can withstand. I do not disappoint my clients and I promise what can be delivered. What’s the most exciting part of your job? Meeting new clients and being challenged by their needs. What are the qualities you possess that contribute to your success in the real estate industry? I am very analytical and well educated in terms of all aspects of residential real estate as well as the use of varying legal structures often used in today’s transactions, including purchases by family trusts and foreign inbound investors. I also have a tremendous sense of design and aesthetics. I can see through a wreck. I love value-driven deals. What keeps you going every day? I enjoy working through the ever-changing
In what profession could you see yourself, other than your present one? What attributes do you have that would make you particularly good in that field? I believe I have the qualities it takes to be a successful Hollywood agent or producer. . . like real estate, I can take clients for who they are and negotiate the particulars to achieve a profitable outcome. . . or if producing a movie, match the film with the star and bring together all the components to make the production a success. I excel at putting deals together. Tell us something about you that people might be surprised to learn. We give back. I have established numerous strategic charitable partnerships on behalf of our clients with select charities including The Drama League of New York and Harvest East End where we donate up to 20 percent of our brokerage fees earned in honor of our clients. It’s a great way of giving back and building long-lasting relationships. How do you spend your free time? I enjoy spending the weekends in North Haven [the Sag Harbor suburb] with my family and friends and enjoy, many a night out at some of New Yorks best charity events.
HEALING
HAVENS Some of the most renowned treatment facilities.
APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 97
HEALING HAVENS The Patricia Regnemer Main House at Silver Hill Hospital. Founded in 1931, Silver Hill is a nonprofit psychiatric hospital.
RechaRge and RestoRe
M
ental illness affects one in five adults annually. But there is hope: With proper treatment, between 70 and 90 percent can have a significant reduction of symptoms. How do you decide which treatment facility is best for you? At Silver Hill Hospital, we emphasize total patient care and believe these elements are critical to making your choice.
•
An Exclusive Focus on the Most Advanced, Comprehensive Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment — All of our attention, resources and expertise focus on the patient. Providing the best possible psychiatric and addiction treatment is our sole mission. Our expertise includes treating multiple or co-occurring disorders. Specialized Treatment Programs — We offer acute inpatient, transitional living (residential) and intensive outpatient programs that enable patients to move along the continuum of care and progress towards recovery. Experienced, Licensed Staff — We have psychiatrists on-site 24 hours a day, seven days per week. Our staff includes 12 full-time psychiatrists, psychologists, pain specialists, licensed clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses and technicians. Family Involvement and Family Support — We understand the impact of psychiatric illness on the family and offer many programs to help them cope with suffering caused by these illnesses. Physical Environment and Amenities — Our beautiful 42-acre campus is integral to our treatment programs. Some of our newly renovated buildings have won architectural awards and provide a homelike feeling. Our alternative wellness services include yoga, massage and acupressure. Location — Silver Hill is located in New Canaan, Connecticut— 50 miles north of New York City—making it easy for family visitation.
•
• •
The Parlor Room in Scavetta House, the men’s transitional living residence where patients gather, read or visit with their families.
• •
Silver Hill Hospital
l
100 | AVENUE MAGAZINE •APRIL 2013
208 Valley Road
l
New Canaan, CT 06840
l
800.899.4455
back to the top
you top belong backwhere to the where you belong
Clarity Clarity in Private Excellence CareCare in Private Excellence
Achieving goals, goals,overcoming overcomingchallenges, challenges, obtaining success - you’ve Achieving obtaining success - you’ve beenbeen very very good good at it. at it. You edge, clear focus, and and energy to betoatbeyour best to You know know how howhard hardit itisistotomaintain maintainthatthat edge, clear focus, energy at your best to stay rehab program assists leaders in regaining and maintaining stay on on top. top.The ThePrive-Swiss Prive-SwissClarity Clarity rehab program assists leaders in regaining and maintaining control enjoy lifelife again andand reach new new heights of success. control ofoftheir theirlives lives- -get getback backonontrack, track, enjoy again reach heights of success.
www.PriveSwiss-Clarity.com www.PriveSwiss-Clarity.com
Call Now 800-866-2948 / 323-697-7278 Call Now 800-866-2948 / 323-697-7278
renew. reflect. refuel. recharge.
You don’t have to sacrifice your standard of living on the journey to wellness. Experience the East Coast’s premier luxury retreat that is a licensed, Joint Commission accredited drug and alcohol rehab and medical detox center. Our guests enjoy a living recovery with all the amenities, concierge, access to mobile phones, and a full-service business center.
toll-free 24/7
(888) 997-3274
www.seasidepalmbeach.com
beauty by
CHARLOTTE ROSS
RED CARPET READY anYa HinDMarcH Small Make Up case in Sorbet, $250, anyahindmarch.com
A Hollywood glow is all about the pre-show prep. Herewith, your beauty must-haves for achieving a flawless face and enviable hair photographed by Homer Parkes
cHanEl Stylo Eyeshadow, $34, available May 2013 at chanel.com
SK-ii Facial Treatment Mask, $90 for six, sk-ii.com,
BEcca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector, $36, sephora.com
oriBE Dry Texturizing Spray, $19.50 (2.2 fl. oz), oribe.com
MaKE UP ForEVEr HD Microfinish Powder, $34, and aqua rouge (above), $24, sephora.com
ESTÉE laUDEr limited Edition Mad Men collection See-Thru Blush in light Show, $50, esteelauder.com MaKE UP ForEVEr HD Kabuki Brush with Pouch, $40, sephora.com
la PrairiE Essence of Skin caviar Eye complex, $135, shoplaprairie.com
Moroccan oil Glimmer Shine, $27.20, moroccanoil.com
ToM ForD lip color Shine in Frolic, $48, tomford.com
PErriconE MD coSMEcEUTicalS Blue Plasma, $95, sephora.com VincE caMUTo fiori, $78, vincecamuto.com DErMElEcT coSMEcEUTicalS ME Polish in Persuasive, $14, dermelect.com
THE PEninSUla SPa nEW YorK Biologique recherche Healthy Glow Facial, $225, 212.903.3910 104 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
clÉ DE PEaU BEaUTÉ concealer in ivory, $70, saks.com
VBEaUTÉ lite Up intense Brightening agent, $150, bergdorfgoodman.com
Got veins?
Movers Not Shakers East Side
The NYU Vein Center, one of the world’s leading vein centers, can help reduce the unsightliness of spider veins and eliminate the pain and discomfort of varicose veins.
1569 Second Ave. Ph. (212)-570-5500 Fax (212)-570-5508
Bronx
Our expert surgeons will help return your legs to being healthy and looking beautiful. Most insurances accepted.
Moving and Storage
Visit either our Manhattan or Morristown office:
T:4.7”
New York, NY 530 First Avenue, Suite 6D 1-877-V EIN-N Y U (834-6698)
Since 1952
163 Exterior St. Ph. (212)-222-4880 Fax (718)-993-2188
Experience Security Reliability
Morristown, NJ 95 Madison Avenue, Suite 415 1- 973-538-2000
International Shipping Handling of Fine Arts & Antiques Residential & Commercial Services
(212)-222-4880 www.paddedwagon.com Visit www.nyuvein.org or scan the code above.
AVENUEmagazine.com
011 please call te
Art Director Copy Writer Acct Mgr. Proj. Manager Studio Artist None
Marge Lo Giselle Salazar Lauren Pulwer Jacquelyn Schanck FRANK FERNANDEZ
Last Modified 2-13-2012 2:53 PM
Prev. Users
Location
ffernandez (quad core)
Inks
Cyan
ffernandez/lhernandez_2
Fonts & Placed Graphics
Family Garamond Helvetica Neue Times
Style Bold, Regular 77 Bold Condensed Regular
Legs 73348165_HR_final.tif qrcode_vein2.png NYULMC_NEW_SEPT2011.eps
Gray RGB
Magenta brings you the best blogs on who Name was where Color Space Yellow
Content
Personnel
NYULMCP2090_3.38x4.7.indd
Notes
me
T:3.38”
Black
(and what they wore) at last night’s hottest parties,
Eff. Res. 1825 ppi 251 ppi
the latest shocking social scandal, the must-buys of the moment, the Chic of the Week and of course
YC-Creative:Studio:MECHANICALS:NYU MEDICAL:2011:VEIN CENTER:NYULMCP2067:NYULMCP2090_3.38x4.7.indd
Your Daily Daphne (Guinness, of course). Sip up all the style and society gossip we are serving up with your morning latte.
postcards from . . .
by
HALEY FRIEDLICH
Dancing through Russia Karen LeFrak is a walking, talking renaissance woman. She is a children’s book author, a musician, a composer, a philanthropist and a dog enthusiast. After premiering her new children’s ballet, Bark! in the Park in February, she is only gaining momentum. She will be co-chairing the 6th Annual Spring Ball for the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center on April 22 at The Temple of Dendur at the Met. And as if this weren’t all enough, Karen and Richard LeFrak will be welcoming their second grandchild this month, as well.
Favorite places After an exciting trip to St. Petersburg, this is now my favorite place in the world. At the Mariinsky Concert Hall I saw the ballet Gentle Memories, for which I composed the music.
Elegant accommodations The Grand Hotel Europe offered old world elegance and charm. All the unique historic suites are located on the first floor of the hotel, and while they don’t offer terraces, they feature beautiful high ceilings. The Pavarotti Suite and the Dostoevsky Suite have the best views of Arts Square and the Russian Museum.
Dancer friends
St.Petersburg, Russia
We look forward to visiting the brilliant Maestro Valery Gergiev; the head of the Mariinsky Ballet, Yuri Fateev and some of his wonderful dancers including Yekaterina Kondaurova and Islom Baimuradov. As there is no direct flight to St. Petersburg from New York, I always stop in Moscow for a short excursion before taking a short flight to St. Petersburg the next day.
Face time with inspiration The exploration of the city’s churches, museums, and palaces is extraordinary. Above all, Pavlovsk Palace was my favorite site because I had written a ballet about it and finally got to see it in person. My travels inspire; new experiences bring new ideas to every aspect of your life.
Exploratory Advice Karen LeFrak on stage following her production
I would recommend seeing the Stroganov Palace, the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood, and Yusupov Palace (also known as the site of Rasputin’s murder.) Additionally, the Hermitage and Pavlovsk Palace are a must, along with a walking tour of the city center and Summer Garden. The River and Canals boat tour is also so picturesque and enjoyable.
Russian Fare For breakfast try the Grand Hotel Europe, with Nevsky Prospect being great for Russian-style teas and delicious pastries. Mansarda is a great place for lunch. For dinner try Aragvi, a true Georgian restaurant, and try khachapuri—a cheesy bread fresh from the oven. LeFrak dining with family and friends in St. Petersburg
From Russia, with love The best relic I brought back from St. Petersburg was a wooden chicken puppet for my grandson.✦
106 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
finance elite
Leveling the Playing Field Meet Nicole Noonan of BBL Churchill, a divorce finance firm that funds the non-monied spouse to achieve an equitable settlement
Nicole Noonan, J.D. BBL Churchill Director of Client Services 11 Hanover Square, Floor 6 New York, NY 10005 212.797.0212 nicole.noonan@bblchurchill.com www.bblchurchill.com
W
hether meeting a client for lunch, listening to him or her vent on the phone or joining them at an exercise class, Nicole Noonan is dedicated to her work as Director of Client Services at BBL Churchill. “I’m always available,” she says, “My cell phone number goes to all of our clients.” The firm provides financial backing for legal fees, expert costs, accountants, investigators and other resources to ensure the expenses of the non-monied spouse are covered throughout divorce pro-
ceedings. Noonan’s role is to be there for clients on a personal level, as a sort of lifeline or support system, helping them navigate the technical complexities and emotions of an oftentimes contentious course of action. Born and raised in Far Hills, New Jersey, Noonan graduated from Boston College with a BA in Economics and Communications and later obtained her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. She first read about the company in a 2010 New York Times article while practicing matrimonial law in Morristown, New Jersey. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is an absolutely fabulous idea. . . an amazing tool,’” she recalls, “Because a lot of my clients at the time were the non-monied spouse.” They couldn’t pay the legal fees, she explains, or they would come in and they couldn’t pay the retainer agreement. “It was heart-wrenching to see these people who truly wanted good representation and great accountants—who needed that to get the settlement they deserved—but couldn’t afford it.” Fast forward to last spring—Noonan came across a job listing for a position at BBL Churchill online, “I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the great company I had read about,’ and sent out my resumé. I called them up and said, ‘I know I’m the girl for you.’ They said, ‘Yes, you are!’ And I was literally in the next day.” A board comprised of former matrimonial judges, high-powered attorneys and a few big players from Wall Street evaluate the total marital asset pool and then loan an amount based on an anticipated settlement reached during the client’s worst day in court. Most importantly, the firm contributes to the cost of living expenses. “If the kids are in private
school, and the monied spouse says, ‘Oh, we no longer have the funds for that,’. . . Whatever it is—the schooling, the dentist, orthodontist or after school activities—we’re there to pay for that,” Noonan explains. A lot of her new clients arrive and their husbands or wives have hidden or illiquid assets; she points out, “And with a $40,000 loan to hire a forensic accountant, [they are able to find] a $2M bank account in Budapest.” Without the right lawyer and the financial resources BBL Churchill provides, the non-monied spouse will end up receiving a much smaller percentage of what he or she is entitled to. An Upper East Side resident, Noonan prides herself on identifying with her clientele and sympathizing with the men and women she meets. She has experienced her fair share of tough relationships; she called off an engagement and lost her dog as a result. Now a newlywed of one year, she’s still excited about love and is passionate about helping other people. “I think it’s so much more rewarding, what I do now,” she notes, referring to her former career as a matrimonial attorney. “When I meet a man or woman for the first time, they’re almost shell-shocked. They feel that they don’t have an end in sight. It’s a terrible place for them— they don’t know what to do about money. And then to come back in two months after they’ve been funded and they’ve started to see progression in their case and to date again. To see those people, now radiant and empowered—I think giving them that empowerment is the benefit.” Outside her work at BBL Churchill, she serves as the Co-chair of the New York Junior League and spends the majority of her time giving back to her community. A former dancer and exercise enthusiast—she attends Physique 57 every morning— Noonan is a breath of fresh air for her clients. “I think divorce had a stigma on it and people are afraid of it at first,” she concludes, “But it’s part of what we are now and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s what you do with it going forward.”
“We handhold. I meet with our clients, talk to them and let them talk to me. I do sometimes need to give them the empowerment that they can do this—they can make it through the end. It’s not going to destroy them. They will survive a divorce.” APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 107
Images: Yvel, Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts, Calderwood Gallery
Save the Date for the most exciting show of the season! An incomparable selection and experience.
October 9-13, 2013
The Park Avenue Armory 643 Park Avenue at 67th Street, New York City
To inquire about exhibiting, please contact Barbara Goodwin at 212.284.9728 or bgoodwin@manhattanmedia.com. Visit www.avenueshows.com for show highlights.
TM
EVERY CHILD – NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE BORN – DESERVES A SMILE. EVERY CHILD DESERVES ACCESS TO SAFE, QUALITY SURGICAL CARE AND A FUTURE FILLED WITH HOPE. OPERATION SMILE WORKS IN MORE THAN 60 COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE FREE RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY FOR CHILDREN BORN WITH FACIAL DEFORMITIES. AS THE LARGEST VOLUNTEER-BASED CLEFT ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD, OUR WORK CREATES A LASTING GLOBAL IMPACT. WE TRAIN LOCAL DOCTORS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND STRENGTHEN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS SO CHILDREN WORLDWIDE CAN BE TREATED. TOGETHER, WE ARE SAVING CHILDREN’S LIVES. WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN CHANGE FOREVER.
JOIN OPERATION SMILE FOR AN EVENING OF SMILES AT OUR 2013 SMILE EVENTS APRIL 26, 2013
WWW.OPERATIONSMILE.ORG/JRSMILE
MAY 2, 2013
WWW.OPERATIONSMILE.ORG/NYC
social safari
by
R. COURI HAY
Alexandra Lebenthal, Anna Safir, Eleanora Kennedy & Yaz Hernandez at the Couture Council @ FIT’s “Shoe Obsession” Exhibition
Joanne de Guardiola in Aspen Jenny & John Paulson @ Lincoln Center
Blaine Trump @ Lincoln Center
Dariya Mikhaylova & Zang Toi @ his show at Lincoln Center
Royals and Billionaires on Spring Break Skiing in Aspen, Polo in Courchevel and The Snow Lotus Trio Rocky Mountain High
Leading the privileged pack to Aspen this winter were Julia and David Koch, Suzanne and Woody Johnson, and father-son Leonard and William Lauder. Also journeying there were the perennially glamorous Muffie Potter Aston, her husband Dr. Sherrell Aston, and their twins Ashleigh and Bracie. The couple hobnobbed with Carol Mack, Carolyne Roehm, Charlotte Moss, Pauline Pitt, Samantha Rosen, Serena Theodoracopulos and interior designer Joanne de Guardiola, whose renovation of Malcolm Forbes’ yacht The Highlander had everyone buzzing. Where did the elite meet to lunch? The top choice was Ajax (a.k.a. Aspen Mountain), the only peak to ski and be seen on. Ajax hosts the private Aspen Mountain Club, known more for its cozy décor by David Easton than its haute cuisine. N’est-ce pas? For people-watching, the smart strategy was to score a table at Matsuhisa, Cache Cache or Casa Tua, where visitors may end up trading howdy-do’s with folks like Natalie Cole and Denise Rich. For a decade the late John Kennedy Jr. visited there and made hearts race; and his cousins still schuss down these slopes, alongside Hollywood A-listers from Kate Hudson to Jack Nicholson, who can be found hoisting a glass at the newly refurbished Hotel Jerome, built in 1889. The prettiest snow bunnies may be found gathered around the fireplace for après-ski aperitifs at the resort’s top hotel, the Little Nell, where you may bump into Dana Hammond and her attractive sons, Oliver, Miles, Nicky, and Jonathan; plus Gillian and 110 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
Sylvester Miniter and their children, Quint and Serena. The membersonly Caribou Club, founded by the late and much-missed Harley Baldwin, is still the center of the action. There, everyone wants to dine and dance with their friends, and keep an eye out for Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and the edgy twentysomething set. This spring, the Robert Mapplethorpe show at Richard Edwards’ Baldwin Gallery had the cognescenti pulling out their black cards. baldwingallery.com ; aspenchamber.org
Courchevel, the Winter St. Tropez
Serious gourmands and sports enthusiasts have been migrating to Courchevel, France, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, George Clooney, Georgio Armani, Victoria and David Beckham and the King of Morocco may be found exploring three stellar valleys in what is now the largest ski area extant. The village of Courchevel 1850 (numbered for its altitude in meters) is now the sixth most expensive place in the world; new construction there has been ringing in at over $10,000 per square foot. That doesn’t faze the Saudi Royal family, or Roman Abramovich, or Mikhail Prokhorov, who entertains Russian President Vladimir Putin at his spectacular chalet. The seriously rich and beautiful people one finds at Club 55 in St. Tropez go to Courchevel in the spring, basking in the sun while lunching at Eric Tournier’s hotspots Le Casserole and Le Cap Horn. Don’t miss
Miley Cyrus & Marc Jacobs @ his Fashion Show
Muffie Potter Aston, Dr. Sherrell Aston and Bracie & Ashleigh Aston @ MSKCC Bunny Hop
Angela Chen & Gary Parr @ the New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Celebration
Jon & Michelle Marie Heinemann @ the International Red Cross Ball
Ian Galliene, Michael Redding, & Simon Luginbuehl in Courchevel
Naha Siman of the Snow Lotus Trio
Ambassador Mary Ourisman @ the International Red Cross Ball
Mary Alice Stephenson @ the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Awards gala
the truffle pizza and sole menuniere while you’re on the terrace; you’ll be in culinary heaven, and the music is jamming. You’ll run into Nicole Miller, Laurence Graff, Tiffany Dubin, and a host of Europeans you know or will want to know. This Alpine retreat, which can boast of having snow from Christmas to Easter, has 10 Michelin-starred restaurants. One of the best is Le 1947, tucked away in the très cher hotel, Cheval Blanc, owned by LVMH Group’s Bernard Arnault. Other prestigious addresses are K2 and Les Airelles. Developer Janna Bullock owns two slopeside hotels, including the Pralong, which is the most perfectly situated ski-in/ski-out hotel in Courchevel 1850. The bellhops lay out your skis every day and help you get in and out of your boots. It’s the only way, really. If you want to go clubbing, follow Christina Aguilera and Robbie Williams to Discothèque Les Caves or La Grange, or have dinner at La Mangeoire and dance on the banquettes or around the Cristal bottles that litter the tables. The planet’s top polo players compete on the snow-covered runway of Courchevel’s Altiport, which is perched on the mountain in such a manner that you can literally ski home from your private jet. Dashing Laurent Dassault captained Team Julian Joaillier, which won this year’s BMW Polo Masters Tournament. Chalets in this Alpine paradise, where money meets charm and quality, range from $60 million to $100 million. Who else would tell you these things? hotelpralong.com ; courchevel.com
The Year of the Snake
“There are more billionaires in the audience than there are instruments on the stage,” quipped one wag at The New York Philharmonic’s celebration of the Chinese New Year, which explored the connections between Western and Eastern music. Special events chair Karen LeFrak and her husband Richard hosted two tables of music-minded moguls, including Jenny and John Paulson, Christine and Stephen Schwarzman, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Lauren and John Veronis and Wilbur Ross and Hilary Geary Ross, who said, “I Loved the Snow Lotus trio! They were beautiful and sang like angels; they made my evening!” Blaine Trump told me she got her beautiful white tunic “in a gas station in Vietnam,” adding, “What a surprise to see Herbie Hancock; he’s iconic; the Philharmonic adds soul and the musical diversity that we need to keep our hearts singing.” Leading the applause for guest maestro Long Yu (conductor of the China Philharmonic) were the American Phil’s music director Alan Gilbert, Georgette Mosbacher, Geoffrey Bradfield, Michele Gerber Klein, Jacques d’Amboise, BBL Churchill Group’s Brendan Lyle and Nicole Noonan, Elaine Sargent and Angela Chen and Gary Parr, two of the event’s five co-chairs. The benefit, sponsored by Credit Suisse Group, netted nearly a million dollars to support music education programs for public school students in our city’s Chinese community; guests received perfume from Bulgari. Bravo! nyphil.org ✦ APRIL 2013 • AVENUE MAGAZINE | 111
the world according to . . .
Jane Rosenthal AVENUE’s back-page column asks New York notables our version of the questionnaire made famous by Marcel Proust Wag the Dog, Marvin’s Room, Analyze This and Meet the Parents: Name the movie, and Jane Rosenthal has most likely produced it. Though born in Denver, Colorado, and raised in Providence, Rhode Island, Rosenthal has become an ardent New Yorker through and through. She’s also helped create some of the most talked-about films in the history of Hollywood and made waves in the neighborhood of Tribeca. There, with the help of Robert DeNiro, she co-founded the Tribeca Productions film studio, oversees the annual Tribeca Film Festival and serves as co-founder and co-chair of the nonprofit Tribeca Film Institute. In anticipation of the 12th Annual Tribeca Film Festival taking place April 17—28, the eminent film producer opens up about her lifestyle downtown overlooking the Hudson River.
What is your favorite part of New York City? Downtown, because not all of the streets have numbers. When did you first feel like a New Yorker? 1964 World’s Fair, when I first saw the Unisphere; plus, they had Belgian waffles!
What is your favorite watering hole for lunch? My desk, eating the Whole Megillah soup from Kutsher’s.
Who is the smartest New Yorker you know? Mike Bloomberg. Who is the funniest New Yorker you know? Tina Fey, although John Alexander is a close second. What part of the New York lifestyle can’t you live without? Walking through the neighborhoods and Sunday Chinese food. Blue Bottle coffee
What’s your favorite way to get around New York and why? My sneakers, because I can walk farther and faster than in my Blahniks.
For dinner? At home with my girls. What newspaper column do you read first thing in the morning? Politico and The Daily Beast online.
Who is your favorite New Yorker, past or present? Robert Moses.
What’s your favorite New York sound? The sound of Blue Bottle coffee dripping into my morning cup at All Good Things. What’s your favorite New York cliché? “A New York minute.”
Whom do you most admire? Anyone with curiosity.
What is your favorite New York logo? The I Love NY logo, by Milton Glaser.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Rested. ✦
Who is your favorite dinner partner? My daughters, Juliana and Isabella. 112 | AVENUE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013
What’s your most embarrassing New York moment? Why would I tell you?
Gardiner’s Bay : Where Everyday is Saturday Amagansett. Make life one long weekend when you own an incomparable 3,500 SF+/- Amagansett bayfront residence that sits along 120 ft of bulkheaded waterfront. Heroic water views with incredible sunsets from three levels of living space is the calling card for a 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath retreat, recently rebuilt that includes spacious living room with fireplace and full bar, a completely outfitted kitchen and convenient first floor guest suite. The indoor Endless pool sits within its own waterview atrium. An office and heated garage complete the first level. Upstairs the expansive master with luxurious bath and gym has its own balcony with access to the unique roof deck. There is a finished lower level with staff lounge, full bath and laundry area. The huge outdoor deck offers custom built-in stone bbq, outdoor shower and ample room to kick back and enjoy all the action on Gardiner’s Bay. Moor your boat right out back or hang out on your own wooden float. Town water and a audio/visual package complete this extraordinary offering. With the bay at your doorstep and the ocean merely a bike ride away, start your extended weekends with your own preview today. Exclusive. $3.495M WEB# 41800
Deerfield Road Water Mill. Bold strokes, consummate detail and copious amenities are just a few of the reasons to preview a recently completed traditional on 2 acres off Deerfield Rd. Superlative new construction offers 6,500 SF+/- of living space as a paneled entry leads to formal living room with fireplace and a formal dining room augmented by a butler’s pantry. The expansive kitchen wing includes professional appliances and breakfast area and opens to its own living room with fireplace. Upstairs the master suite is a sanctuary unto its own with private terrace and luxurious bath complete with shower room and deep slipper tub. Four guest suites complete the second floor. A elevator connects to the lower level where 2 staff bedrooms, full bath and recreational areas await. Outside, the resort like grounds offer a pool with spa and waterfall as well as a full size all weather tennis court. A garage and full audiovisual system complete this new offering on very desirable Deerfield Road. Exclusive. $4.65M WEB# 42961
Exceptional Properties...Exceptional Results Southampton to Montauk...Sagaponack to Shelter Island Gary DePersia, SVP, Lic. Assoc. R.E. Broker d: 631.899.0215 m: 516.380.0538 gdp@corcoran.com corcoran.com/gdepersia
Gary DePersia | VP Associate Broker | 516.380.0538 | gdp@corcoran.com Equal Housing Opportunity. The Corcoran Group is a licensed real estate broker owned and operated by NRT LLC.
R ing
in white gold set with a centRal amethyst ,
white diamonds , emeRalds , peRidots , and pink sapphiRes .
www.degrisogono.com de GRISOGONO BOUTIQUES 8 2 4 M A D I S O N A V E N U E , N E W Y O R K , N Y, ( 2 1 2 ) 4 3 9 - 4 2 2 0 3 7 2 0 L A S V E G A S B LV D S O U T H , L A S V E G A S , N V, ( 7 0 2 ) 8 3 4 - 6 6 0 0 9 7 0 0 C O L L I N S AV E N U E , B A L H A R B O U R , F L , ( 3 0 5 ) 8 6 5 - 8 7 6 5
A B U D H A B I - D U B A I - G E N E VA - G S TA A D - K U WA I T - L A S V E G A S
L O N D O N - M I A M I - M O S C O W - N E W Y O R K - PA R I S PORTO CERVO - ROME - ST BARTHELEMY - ST MORITZ - TOKYO