Yvonna Russell's Blog, page 5

Lang Lang & Friends

Lang Lang and Gina Alice

Fall 2022 in Manhattan is all about a great benefit party. The uber talented international pianist Lang Lang and his lovely wife Gina Alice were joined by friends for a gala concert and dinner to benefit the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. The glamorous black tie evening happened on September 21st at Cipriani 25 in Manhattan.

Kelly Benisson and Candace BushnellEllie Manko, Kristina Allegra Kingston, and Afsaneh AkhtariPaola Bacchini Rosenshein and Philippe BigaCheryl Scharf, Alina De Almeida, and Norma Safdieh

Despite his busy performance calendar and a new album The Disney Book, the award winning Modern classical performing artist values his commitment that all children should have access to a music education, regardless of their background.

Lori Hsieh, David Hsieh, and Steve Lassig.Teddy Siegel, Joshua Mhoon, Maxim Lando, and Laurie Cumbo

The ten year old nonprofit provides musical creative outlet and exposure with pianos and piano instruction to children around the world. The “Lang effect” methodology has supported 192 schools, 4500 pianos, 182,000 scholars and 1,890,000 students impacted to date. Through cool programs, Young Scholars identifies extraordinarily talented young pianists , Keys of Inspiration provides fully equipped piano labs, teaching material and grants while 101 Pianists provides unique events for musical performances and attendance often with Lang Lang.

Brook Messner-Sheldon and Nathanael HausmannJonathan Burkan, Eric Anton, and Nelson LeeWanja S. Oberhof and Anabel Oelmann

Welcomed by the illustrious Lang Lang International Music Foundation Gala Chair John Paulso, Board members Christy Cressy, David Hsieh, David Hryck, Joseph Rallo, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Kyle Wool and CEO of LLMF Lukas Barwinski-Brown to Cipriani 25 on Wall Street for a beautiful night. Under the handpainted Cipriani atrium the evening began with an elegant cocktail party where guests Kelly Bensimon, Candace Bushnell, Kelly Cutrone, artist Steven Ladd, as well as Afsaneh Akhtari, Janna Bullock, Amanda and Carter Burch, Angela Chen, Joan Hardy Clark, Judith Anne Corrente and Wym Kooyer, Laurie Cumbo, Nathanael Hausmann, Joanna Fisher, Chloe Flower, Carole Guest, Michele Gerber Klein, Ellie Manko, Sherrie Mu, Liane Pei, Lydia and David Sarfati, Jean Shafiroff, Daisy Soros, Vivienne Tam, Veronika Vilim and Victoria Wyman mingled near two open bars and hors d’ourves of lamp chops, artichokes scallops, shrimp, bruschetta and porcini mushrooms.

Lukas Barwinski-Brown and John Paulson

Apres the concert was a superb dinner started with thin sliced Prosciutto di Parma with mozzarella di Bufalo followed by Wagyu Strip steak or Sea Bass accompanied by Potatoe Dauphinoise and organic tricolor carrots. A dessert cart of chocolate soufflé with Chantilly cream, Giant strawberries dipped in bittersweet chocolate and fruit tarts with pastry cream beckoned anyone’s sweet tooth.

Barbara Tober

The Foundation’s Ariela Rossberg introduced their first annual Teacher of the Year Award, Davis Cahill of Jefferson Elementary School in Greensboro NC. Lang Lang applauded his commitment to music education and presented him with a check for five thousand dollars.

Oli Coleman, Kelly Cutrone, Matthew Taylor, Kelly Bensimon

Longtime board member Shirley Young, who befriended Lang Lang when he was just ten received a posthumous Lifetime Philanthropy Award . Shirley’s sons, David, Doug, and William Hsieh pledged a $100,000 challenge grant for new Keys of Inspiration school sponsorship in her memory. Barbara Tober generously created the Donald Tober Piano Fund for Scholars, helping talented young pianists with tuition fees, travel to competitions, lessons, and piano maintenance.

Willem Kooyker, Judith-Ann CorrenteVeronika Vilim, David Hyrck, Wyclef Jean, Vivienne Tam

The bombastic Leszek made a fabulous auctioneer as he raised donations from the crowd for Sponsor a School which covers all program expenses including a Roland piano lab in one elementary school between grades 2–5. The charming CEO of the foundation visited every table greeting guests.

Lang Lang and Mauro Castillo

The musical performances were stellar. Lang Lang himself played classic songs from iconic films on his album The Disney Book as well as the Chinese favorite Jasmine Flower. Mauro Castillo from the cast of Disney’s Encanto joined him on stage for a version of We Don’t Talk About Bruno.

Lang Lang and Gina Alice

Lang Lang played piano and his wife Gina Alice sang a romantic rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star. Castillo took the stage once more to perform a Celia Cruz salsa with Young Scholar alumni Maxim Lando on piano. For the finale Lang Lang joined 20 Young Scholars from the foundation on pianos to play Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.Surprise guest rapper, producer, and philanthropist Wyclef Jean gave an impromptu performance of his hit Santana collaboration Maria Maria for his friend Lang Lang’s 40th birthday.

Wyclef Jean and Lang Lang

The blowout evening ended with ribboned gift bags of Laderach chocolates, Repechage skincare and The Disney Book CD. The evening raised over 1.3 million dollars for the Lang Lang International Music Foundation. A starry night in Manhattan to benefit a great cause.

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Brilliant & Black

Photos courtesy of Sotheby’s

When billionaire beauty mogul and style icon Rihanna chose to wear the ‘Rebel Black Ring’ by Thelma West Diamonds to The Met Gala on September 13, 2021 in New York, the jewellery industry was set abuzz.

Rebel Black ring Gold and black ceramic ring featuring a 5.01 pear-shaped D-color Diamond (Thelma West)

Last year the piece was a highlight from the New York Sotheby’s show “Brilliant & Black: A Jewelry Renaissance” — the first-ever selling exhibition showcasing the extraordinary skill, imagination and craftsmanship of black jewellery designers from the 1950s to the present day. Sotheby’s collaborated again with celebrated jewellery writer and curator, Melanie Grant for the second selling exhibition dedicated to Black Jewellery designs. Entitled “Brilliant & Black: The Age of Enlightenment,” the London edition promises to be bigger in scale than the original New York show.

NOMOLI TOTEM MIS-MATCH Earrings 18kt Yellow gold, brilliant cut natural diamonds, emeralds and South Sea pearls (Satta Matturi)

The public exhibition will be at Sotheby’s London starting 22 September to 2 October 2022 and the celebration of Black History Month in the UK. The major exhibition at Sotheby’s in London show features over 70 designs from 25 of new generation Black Jewelers who have created one new piece in response to Grant’s theme of Enlightenment.

Enchanted Garden Diamond, Ruby and Rose Gold Flower Earrings ( Vaneles)

“As an exhibition, I think it did two important things. It turned the pain we all felt surrounding George Floyd into a lasting artistic legacy, and it provided a global platform for black jewellers to celebrate this new renaissance of African infused design. Now, in part II and this time held in London, we celebrate a period of enlightenment. In history, after the explosion and re-birth of culture and learning driven by artists that came with The Renaissance from the 1300s onwards, there followed an Age of Enlightenment. This was a time of growth, individualism, and intellectual reason as well as the freedom to expand and explore now the Renaissance had taken place and to really settle into a new era of creativity” Melanie Grant explains.

Cleopatra’s Vault Pendant and Snake Foundation Chain, Muzo Emeralds, Black and White Onyx and White Diamonds in 18k Yellow Gold (Harwell Godfrey)

Participating designers Melanie Eddy, Lola Fenhirst, Harwell Godfrey, Sheryl Jones, Vania Leles, Angie Marei, Satta Matturi, Johnny Nelson, Castro NYC, Jariet Oloye-Oduto, Jacqueline Rabun, Catherine Sarr, Maggi Simpkins, Karen Smith, Ten Thousand Things, Lorraine West and Thelma West from the Manhattan show will be in the London exhibition. This theory of expansion has been realized by the appearance of seven new artists, including Gina Love, Sewit Sium, Shola Branson, Roxanne Rajcommar-Hadden, Ndidi Ekubia, Disa Allsopp, Pascale Marthine Tayou via Elisabetta Cipriani gallery and Latoya Boyd added to the showing.

Univesrum Tsavorite Cuff in 18K Yellow Gold ( Catherine Sarr)

“The tsunami of interest we experienced in black creativity may be quieter now, but we cannot forget its lessons. There are fears that as things return to normal, our efforts to elevate black design will be eclipsed by more recent events but the work is too good and once seen never forgotten. I’ve witnessed a flurry of other exhibitions and had conversations with so many other black creatives following Brilliant & Black: A Jewellery Renaissance, that I truly believe a door has been opened. The jewels themselves act like artefacts marking our progress at this very moment in history” states Grant.

Isis Goddess Black Tahitian and pearl-green Tsavorite ring in 18k-black-gold (Angie Marei)

If you can’t hop over to the showing at Sotheby’s New Bond Street Galleries all Brilliant & Black pieces exhibited will be available for purchase, either in person, or directly through Sotheby’s Buy Now marketplace at Sothebys.com

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PatBO x Alessandra Ambrosio Collection

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO PRINTED CUTOUT DRESS

Brazilian women do it better. There it’s always bikini season and staying cool, fit, sexy is a way of life. When supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio opened and closed Founder and Creative Director, Patricia Bonaldi first New York Fashion Week runway show for PatBO at Le Pavillion a collaboration was born. After NYFW SS21 excited and inspired, the two were simpatico and started designing the capsule collection right away.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO HAND-BEADED BUSTIER DRESS

“It was a super special moment for PatBO and having Alessandra there with me was such a joy. It was during our time spent together in New York that we dreamt up the collaboration! We started the design process right after the spring show! We never lost that initial excitement and momentum” said Patricia Bonaldi.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO BELTED JUMPSUIT

The capsule is a entrancing mix of Ambrosio and Bonaldi’s personal styles. Bonaldi gravitates towards tailored pieces and color in her everyday dressing. Ambrosio’s style is more bohemian and embraces earth tones.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO METALLIC CROPPED TOP AND FRINGE SHORTS

The 16-piece capsule collection includes designs based on signature PatBO styles, but with unexpected Ambrosio inspiration.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO PLUNGE FRINGE TRIM MINI DRESS

Bonaldi created a hand-drawn print, exclusive to the capsule, that feels organic and natural, but still bold and feminine — a visual representation of the fusion of both of their styles. Ambrosio’s clever idea was to reinvent PatBO’s signature hybrid dress into a jumpsuit that features a built-in shapewear bodysuit.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO HAND-BEADED JUMPSUIT

The women also reimagined the two-piece short set into two special looks — one in organic cotton with jute trim for the daytime and another with metallic fringe for the evening. “I think the collection is a harmonious combination of our personal styles and offers something exciting for every woman” added Patricia.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO JUTE TRIM CROPPED TOP AND SHORTS

“I was really excited to work on this collection with my friend Patricia. She is such a talented designer, and the collaboration came so naturally. Being from Brazil I have always admired Patricia’s commitment to supporting local artisans and creating opportunities for people in our home country,” said Ambrosio. “I just can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this stunning collection as I feel there are so many must-have pieces, June can’t come soon enough.” June is here and the collection is chic and sensual, perfect for summer travel with pieces for the beach, the city, and even evening.

PATBO X ALESSANDRA CUTOUT BEACH. DRESS

PatBO x Alessandra Ambrosio Capsule Collection is available on PatBO.com, in addition to FWRD, Revolve, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, Intermix, Harrods, and Luisa Via Roma and at PatBO’s flagship store in SoHo, New York.

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Opera Lafayette Baroque Music Festival

Jacob Ashworth, Sandrine Chatron

La soirée ultime of the Opera Lafayette Baroque Music Festival was on Wednesday, the night of June 8th in Manhattan. The Era of Marie Antoinette, Rediscovered explores the wife of Louis XVI and Queen of France Marie Antoinette and an intimate look at her the musician and salon host.The evening began uptown at El Museo del Barrio.

Jacob Ashworth, Sandrine Chatron, Nicholas Phan and Sophia Burgos

The concert offered The Musical Salon of Marie Antoinette featuring works by Gluck, Chevalier de Saint Georges and Hinner in a program conceived by harpist Sandrine Chatron. Sandrine performed with soprano Sophia Burgos, tenor Nicholas Phan, violinist Jacob Ashworth and flutist Charles Brink. The musical could have been a day in the court life of Marie Antoinette’s Versailles.

Dr. Ralph Wharton, Charles Kitchen, Carolyn Walsh, Stephen Kitchen

The crisp and moonlit evening was the perfect backdrop as soigné guests were whipped downtown for an intimate dinner at a private club.

Caroline and Max Jahn

Before the gala dinner Emily Rafferty was honored with Opera Lafayette Leadership in the Arts Award. Gala co-chairs Nizam Kettaneh and Marifé Hernandez with a benefit committee boasting Annelyse and Freddy Allen, Tony Bechara, Catia Chaplin, Francis Dubois, Ishtar Méjanes, Lisette Prince, Barbara Tober, and Margo and Anthony Viscusi composed a superb fete.

Emily Rafferty, Barbara Tober, Layla Diba

The intimate dinner served in an elegant salon of crab salad with apple, mango, avocado cream in a coconut dressing followed by beef tournedos with fingerling potatoes and haricot vert with dessert of apple tatin with creme fraiche ice cream was delicious.

Theodocia Austen, Parker Jayne

The repasse was complimented by a French wine selection from Roland Tissier Sancerre Loire and Chateau Greysac Cabernet Medoc and naturallement Laurent Perrier La Cuvee Brut Champagne.

Preston Adams, Kendall McCoy

The Festival opened with a fully staged production of André Grétry’s Silvain, baritone tenor Nathan Berg who performed Dolmon père gave a wonderful post dinner performance to everyone’s delight.

Nathan Berg, Rachel Jonck

Opera Lafayette presented a three-day Baroque Music Festival, The Era of Marie Antoinette, Rediscovered at El Museo del Barrio, June 7–9. The beauty of this music cannot be contested and its relevance underscored by Artistic Director Ryan Brown’s intelligent productions. Opera Lafayette’s Festival featured a superb roster of international singers and musicians including Jacob Ashworth, Charles Brink, Teresa Castillo, Sishel Claverie, Samantha Louis-Jean, Jehú Otero, Nicholas Phan, Zack Powell, Victor Sicard, Théotime Langlois de Swarte, Jonathan Woody, and The Opera Lafayette Orchestra. An integral part of the festival, Opera Lafayette created a commemorative book with essays by participating scholars and performers including Callum Blackmore, Julia Doe, Laurent Dubois, Rebecca Geoffrey-Schwinden, Kaiama Glover, Judith Miller, Maria Mondragon-Valdez, Tania Hernández Velasco, Sylvia Rodríguez, and Caroline Weber.

Stephanie Bernheim, Dr. Ralph Wharton

Through the creation of modern and compelling performances, recordings of rediscovered gems and historical masterpieces to introduce to a new generation, Opera Lafayette is the American producer of period-instrument opera from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Opera Lafayette is the only opera company to perform full seasons in both Washington, DC and New York City.

Kitty Ockenden, Joel Bell, Emily Rafferty

Later that night, the sated opera lovers slipped out into the night with a gift box of Naked chocolate Bon Bon Selection.

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Opera Lafayette New York Baroque Musique Festival Kickoff

Robert Quinlan, Horatio Milberg, Dimity Milberg, Encarnita Quinlan

Consul General of France in New York Jérémie Robert, Marifé Hernández and Nizam P. Kettaneh welcomed opera lovers to a cocktail reception on May 17th at the New York French Consulate to toast Opera Lafayette and the upcoming New York Baroque Musique Festival; The Era of Marie-Antoinette Rediscovered. The New York Baroque Musique Festival arrives on June 7th — 9th in Manhattan.

Angela Chen, Karou Ishikane, Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane, Galina Novikova

Spring chic guests guests Angela Chen, Susan Clearwater, Beatriz Coles, Matthias Ederrer, Mr. and Mrs. John French, April Gow, Susan Gutfreund, Sharon King Hoge, Roberta Downs Sandeman and Arthur A. Houghton, Ambassador and Mrs. Kimihiro Ishikane, Caroline and Max Jahn, Ellie Manko, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Quinlan, Barbara Tober, and Rosemary Zraly gathered at the consulate’s elegant salon.

Marie-Antoinette in the Park (Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun) Met Museum

The beauty of The Era of Marie-Antoinette Rediscovered presents the discerning taste of the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Marie-Antoinette educated in dance and music. The Opera Lafayette’s festival programming of a modern performance of a favored opera, Silvain, performances that transport one to the Queen of France’s Versailles musical salons of chamber works and composers under her patronage.

Susan Gutfreund, Shining Sung, Jean Golden

The three-day event features baroque music performed by international musicians, a roundtable discussion, gala dinner, and reception.

Jérémie Robert

Consul General of France in New York Jérémie Robert shared “This festival will redress some misconceptions about Queen Marie-Antoinette. For one, she was fond of Gretry’s Silvain, a work Opera Lafayette will present on June 7th, that reflects on land rights of farmers as well as on the softening of paternal authority through the display of familial virtue, evidently sympathized with both aspects. The Salon de musique of Marie-Antoinette, to be performed on June 8th, reminds us on the one hand that she was a musician and that she was open minded, having the Chevalier de Saint-Georges as one of her chamber musicians and composers. On June 9th will be a performance of Concert Spirituel aux Caraïbes, which illustrates the global reach beyond Europe of the queen’s musical taste for French opera-comique and for Italian music.”

Caroline Jahn, Max Jahn

As handsome bilingual servers passed flutes of champagne and trays of filet mignon, duck, brie, foie gras and tuna canapés, the lively conversation centered on the inaugural music festival they have long to attend for two years.

Rosemary Zraly, Max Ansbacher

The excitement for the upcoming celebration for opera lovers who had and had not attended the galas was equal. The concert & gala dinner will be held the evening of June 8th at El Museo del Barrio with Opera Lafayette’s presentation of Le Salon de Musique de Marie Antoinette (The Musical Salon of Marie Antoinette). The gala will honor Emily K. Rafferty, President Emerita of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and feature a post-dinner performance by internationally-renowned bass Nathan Berg.

Francois Dubois, Galina Novikova, Jeremie Robert, Patricia Forelle

Ladies bring out your finest gowns and opera glasses (jumelles de théâtre) and gentlemen prepare your best bib and tucker for a splendid evening to come.

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The 66th Viennese Opera Ball

Daniel Serafin, Carolina López Moreno, Silvia Frieser

Aristocrats, debutantes, opera performers, ladies of society, gentleman of distinction, formal dress West Point Cadets and a few bohemians graced the white tie charity event of the season, The 66th Viennese Opera Ball in Manhattan. The Gilded Age ball was held at Cipriani 42nd Street on the evening of May 13th to benefit the music therapy program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with support from Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research.

Jean Shafiroff, Peter Thomas Roth, Silvia Frieser

Once upon a time Austrian immigrants began the annual the white tie charity gala as a cultural tribute to both their former hometown Vienna and their host city, New York. The tradition continues at the 66th Viennese Opera Ball held under the gracious patronage of H.E. Alexander Van der Bellen, President of the Republic of Austria. A special thank you goes to Ernst Woller, President of the Vienna Provincial Parliament, and the continuous support of the City of Vienna.

Daniel Serafin, Leo Hillinger, Silvia Frieser, Ernst Woller, Wolfgang Koechert

Jean Shafiroff

President of the Viennese Opera Ball Silvia Frieser, event chair and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff, Artistic Director of the Viennese Opera Ball Daniel Serafin, President of the Vienna Provincial Parliament Ernst Woller, Peter Thomas Roth, Martin Shafiroff, Winemaker Leo Hillinger, owner of A.E. Köchert Jewelers Wolfgang Koechert, Iurii Samoilov, Carolina López Moreno, Emily Mohr, Cole Rumbough, Patricia Shiah, Mrs. Brookfield, Ana Stone, Scott Stone, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel, Maribel Lieberman, Nicole Salmasi, Alice Lutz, Annabel Oreste, Jonathan Marder, Leon Spinks, and Lilah Ramzi swirled about the delightful night affair. The luminous gala chair, Denise Rich was not in attendance recuperating from an injury. The dynamic founder of Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation was very much missed and thoughts for her speedy recovery.

Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin

Rebecca Morris, Summer Foley and Yasmina Khal-Laayoun

Dr. Luiza Petre and Timofey Shalnev

Resplendent in formal gowns, jewels, black tail tuxedos and white evening gloves the invited guests descended into the opulent theme gala, A Time for Love. Happy to be back after the year apart from quarantine, guests mingled over cocktails and hor d’ouerves in the salon. Nearby by the silent auction tables presented a Ippolita necklace, Jacques Lemans Swiss watch, Oribe Hair care package, Dinner for 4 at Restaurant Schilling, private catering for 40 by Michelin Star chef Edi Fraunder, Rolf Zuckowski music box, and a Marlies Wagner painting. Standing with Ukraine, the Viennese Opera Ball brooch by Austrian jeweler CIRO was also available to purchase with 1000% of proceeds to be donated to Caritas Ukraine.

Emily Mohr, Cole Rumbough

Lidiya Maltseva

Maribel Lieberman, Nicole Salmasi, Alice Lutz

Top opera stars Carolina López Moreno, Iurii Samoilov, Johanna Will, Matthew White, and Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi performed selections from Tosca, Franz Lehar, Verdi and Puccini at the ball. The Viennese Opera Ball Orchestra was conducted Maestro Vinicius Kattah. The handsome opera tenor Iurii Samoilov from Ukraine sang his national anthem.

Iurii Samoilov

The Christie’s auctioneer took to the ballroom floor for live bidding on Austria’s oldest jewelry designer, A.E. Köchert designed Sisi Star brooch of 27 diamonds in 18K white gold, an opera experience package of a two night stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna with a VIP meet with Daniel Serafin at the Opera Festival in the Quarry in Austria, The New York Giants Experience, a trip to Vienna, Helmut Koller painting, Duerer Hare and three nights at the Palais Hansen Kempinski. The auction items to benefit the music therapy program encourages healing and promote a sense of well-being for cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering are also featured on Charitybuzz.com.

Lucia Hwong Gordon

Trisha Willis and John Willis

Claudia Mazzi and Eduardo Mazzi

Towers of long stem red roses adorned the candlelit tables for a delicious 4 course dinner of starter colorful endive, avocado salad with shaved parmesan followed by a creamy risotto with green peas and the main course sliced aged sirloin with bundle of asparagus tied with leeks and potatoes Dauphinoise. A tempting choice of desserts, apple millefoglie with vanilla ice cream or vanilla creme meringue were offered. The dinner was complimented by Austrian wines from Weingut Leo Hillinger, Schlumberger, and Weingut Esterhazy.

Debutantes

Aller Walzer! The presentation of beautiful young debutantes all in white gowns and tiaras carrying a bouquet of red roses glided expertly about in the arms of their groomed escorts.

Debutantes

A Midnight Quadrille had the ballroom swirling as couples danced with the full orchestra in swing as was done in a bygone classic era.

Jean Paul Laurent and Annabel Oreste

Night turned to day and now the DJ Oliver Meiji played on with all the best dance hits for the late party. Tanzbar was set up in the Viennese Salon. The Austrian late-night buffet was a feast of hot roasted sausages, sauerkraut and thick salty pretzels with an array of mustards and beers set up for the hungry dancers and late revelers.

Maria Fishel, Kenneth Fishel

The white gift bag tied with black grosgrain ribbon boasted MarieBelle Chocolates, Peter Thomas Roth moisturizer face cream, a complimentary private lesson to the downtown Fred Astaire Studio, Macarena Luz Bianchi’s book of love poetry, Erno Lazlo face masks, and a bottle of Weingut Leo Hillinger Secco Rose.

Kevin Richards and Janna Bullock

In the wee hours of the morning, guests left with their gift bags and three dozen long red stem roses from Royal Flowers. A magical evening in Manhattan of music, opera and waltz.

All photos pmc Patrick McMullan

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UN Women for Peace Annual Awards Luncheon

Fran Drescher

“A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water.” Fran Drescher began her speech quoting Eleanor Roosevelt at the UN Women For Peace Association Awards Luncheon. The annual celebration took place at the elegant Casa Cipriani in Manhattan on the afternoon of May 3rd.

Adele Nino, Janna Bullock, Nicole Salmasi and Paola Bacchini

Violence against women and girls is a global humanitarian issue. The UNWFPA’s Awards Luncheon bought awareness and action to this important cause. The funds raised will benefit UNWFPA global campaigns to combat domestic violence, human trafficking and child exploitation.

Irena Laks and Margo Langenberg

Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, A21’s Christian Elliott, activist and philanthropist Joanne King Herring, Occidental Petroleum CEO Vicki Hollub, and Kevin Hyland OBE were honored by UN Women For Peace Association (UNWFPA).

The Honorable Joanne King Herring and Susan Gutfreund

The beautiful weather made for a good turnout with the Luncheon Co-Chairs H.E. Sheikha Paula al Sabah, H.R.H. Princess Camilla of Bourbon of Two Siciles, Duchess of Castro, Susan Gutfreund, Leila Heller, Francine LeFrak, Pat Kerr Tigrett, and Regional Chairs include Countess Bérengère de Pontac, Genesis Jones, Annie Joubran, Youngsong Martin, Melissa Metz, Suzan Lee Park, Dr. Christina Rahm-Thomas, and Clayton Thomas greeting everyone over cocktails in the sunny reception and open bar.

AnnaLynne McCord

Reagan and Doug Bauer, Rita Cosby, Amanda Diaz, Kat Graham (award presenter), AnnaLynne McCord with Benjamin W. Decker, Denise Schwartz and Marc Rosen, Barbara Tober, as well as UNWFPA Board of Directors Michal Grayevsky (Treasurer), Valbona Neritani, and Anne Marie Dougherty turned out to support the US nonprofit organization’s campaign goals.

Rosanna Scotto

The lovely Rosanna Scotto hosted the celebration,“As a reporter and co-host of FOX 5’s, Good Day New York, I have been lucky enough to be able to use my platform to highlight women’s stories. We have a mission to make sure that women can achieve the equality they deserve. This year’s Awards Luncheon is to celebrate the life and legacy of a strong woman who always fought for equality; UNWFPA Founder, Dame Muna Rihani Al-Nasser.”

H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al- Nasser and Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo

The celebration honored the life and legacy of UNWFPA Founder, Dame Muna Rihani Al-Nasser. UNWFPA President Rema DuPont presented a posthumous Legacy Award for Muna, accepted by her husband and biggest supporter, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al- Nasser, with their son, Aziz Al-Nasser in the audience. “UN Women for Peace Association will continue to support women and girls with our new Muna Rihani Al-Nasser Scholarship Fund for educating at-risk and underprivileged girls,” shared Rema.

Barbara Tober and Pat Kerr Tigrett

Dame Muna Rihani Al-Nasser’s husband tearfully accepted the award on her behalf and recalled her commitment to the cause proactively making calls with her laptop in bed towards the end of her brave life.

Christian Elliott and Rema DuPont

Actress, SAG-AFTRA President and survivor Fran Drescher made the keynote address, “I became a victim of violence when I was raped at gunpoint in my own home by a man I did not know, who was out on parole. But I was one of the lucky ones, because I lived to identify my assailant and see him sentenced to 150 years in prison. Still, for a year afterwards I felt like a mirror image of myself that was cracked in a thousand pieces. But connecting to one’s trauma, turning pain into purpose, and time are all healing. I am a survivor!”

Kevin Hyland OBE

Elliot is Global Development Officer of A21, Christian Elliott received the Media Award for his heroic efforts to end modern-day slavery. Elliot created the global campaign to combat human trafficking, entitled Can you see me?.

The Honorable Joanne King Herring and Vicki Hollub

Occidental Petroleum CEO Vicki Hollub received her award for generosity. The woman boss received the Humanitarian Award for her outstanding achievements in rescuing over 500 girls, and their families, by bringing them safely from Afghanistan to Portugal.

Denise Schwartz and Marc Rosen

The dazzling, ageless activist and philanthropist Joanne King Herring is more fascinating and dynamic than the character played by Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson’s War. The Honorable Joanne King Herring received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding achievements and years of work to end human trafficking and for helping survivors, which are disproportionately women and children.

Reagan Bauer, Doug Bauer, Christina Rahm-Thomas and Clayton Thomas

Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo received the Leadership Award for her decades of work as a peacekeeper and an advocate for women’s rights. In 2018 DiCarlo became the first woman to assume the position of Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peace-building Affairs at the United Nations.

Kat Graham

Kevin Hyland OBE received the Advocacy Award for his remarkable contributions to ending violence against women and girls everywhere. Hyland dedicated over 30 years to public service, including leading London’s Human Trafficking Unit.

Wendy Moten

The distinguished honorees, speakers, entertainers and guests tucked into a lunch of arugula, sun-dried tomatoes and avocado, sliced Wagyu loin steak au jus served with roasted fingerling potatoes and vegetables followed by a decadent tiramisu in a dark chocolate cup. Though the luncheon focused on pressing humanitarian issues the conversation was uplifting with performers interspersed among the presentations. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was powerfully sung by The Voice finalist Wendy Moten. Country star Drew Aldridge sang his original composition inspired by his wife, She’s Somebody’s Daughter.

Drew Aldridge

President Rema DuPont announced a campaign, “Over 94% of violence against women stems from men, which affirms our belief that the solution does too. That is why we are launching a new campaign called Counting On Men — as we believe without addressing men and boys, we will not make progress on the issues related to violence against women and girls.”

Mimi Pohlman, Michael Archie, Chrystal Archie, Jack Shocklee, Becca Shocklee and Kaya Jones

Since COVID-19, reports of domestic violence has risen up 75%. One in three women globally experience domestic violence. Human trafficking is a pandemic. Every thirty-seconds a child is trafficked. During the past two years, the pandemic and extensive lockdowns exposed vulnerabilities in so many areas, but most especially in relation to the dramatic increase in violence against women and children. The UN Women For Peace Association Awards Luncheon supports the empowerment and protection of woman and girls.

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The Macklowe Collection

Willem de Kooning Untitled XXXIII from 1977 (estimate $12–18 million)

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Moschino NYFW S/S 22

Ladies who Lunch crossed with 1990’s-era Fran Drescher à la The Nanny was the inspiration for Moschino Spring/Summer 22 first New York…

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Fork It Alzheimer’s

The knives and forks were out at the 2021 Fork It Alzheimer’s benefit on Saturday, July 31st in Bridgehampton. The inaugural farm to table…

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