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| The African Rainforest Conservancy (ARC) hosted its 23rd Annual Artists for Africa Benefit at The Bowery Hotel in New York City this past Wednesday. Executive Director Whitney Larkin welcomed over 200 guests including Cassandra Seidenfeld, Renee Adrienne Smith, Bravo’s ‘Shah’s of Sunset’ star Mercedes “MJ” Javid, Bravo TV star Chanel Omari and model Morgan O’Connor. Host Carter Coleman kicked off the evening alongside Master of Ceremonies Tom McGrath to honor Thomas Kaplan with the New Species Award and Sarah Collins with the Environmental Award. |
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| This year's African Rainforest Conservancy benefit was dedicated to the late-Advisory Board member James Gandolfini. For the past two decades, over $1 million has been raised to support grassroots community development projects and conservation in East African rainforests. Highlights of the night included an a cappella song in Zulu by Thuli Dumakude, an African dance by Manekadang African Dance and Drum, with a DJ set and performance by Cary Nokey. |
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| The evening was sponsored by The Bowery Hotel, Extraordinary Journeys, Gardenia Organic, Hahn Family Wines, Industry City Distillery, Nihiwatu Resort, Peak Organic, Tirado Distillery, Selous Safari Company, Coastal Aviation, and Paddle8. For more than 20 years, The African Rainforest Conservancy has worked alongside its field partner the Tanzania Forest Conservation Group (TFCG) to support a network of 140 villages in eight mountain and coastal regions throughout Tanzania that are protecting 3,000 square kilometers of forest – an area 1,000 times the size of New York’s Central Park. For more information on the African Rainforest Conservancy please visit www.africanrainforest.org. |
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| On Monday, January 27, Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) presented "The Making of an Artist" moderated by Barbara Brandt at New York City Center Studios, Studio 5 (130 West 56th Street, NYC). American Ballet Theatre's Marcelo Gomes created new choreography on renowned ABT dancers Misty Copeland and James Whiteside live for 145 guests. Through discussion and demonstration, their creative evolution unfolded. YAGP founding Board Chair, Barbara Brandt, "wanted to give the audience an opportunity to join the dancers and choreographer, in the studio, as we explored the question, "What is an artist?" The evening concluded with an informal reception. |
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| All proceeds from the event went to YAGP's Scholarship Fund, which provides young talented dancers with scholarship auditions and performance opportunities. YAGP's 2014 New York City Finals will take place April 3-8. The gala will be held Thursday, April 10 at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater. For more information, visit www.yagp.org. |
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| The frigid weather didn't keep people from attending An Evening of Cocktails and Dance on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, benefitting The Children's Storefront, a tuition-free private school in Harlem. The annual event was held at The Ailey Studios/The Joan Weill Center for Dance (located at 405 West 55th Street) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. More than 100 guests attended the event, which raised nearly $90,000, an unprecedented amount for this annual event. The evening featured a special performance by young artists enrolled in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program and The Ailey School's Professional Division. The dancers performed Aspects Of A Vibe, choreographed by Darrell Moultrie, Synergy, choreographed by Kirvin Douthit-Boyd, and Passage, choreographed by Jennifer Archibald. |
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| Red Rooster Harlem's signature Yes Chef cocktail was featured thanks to the Storefront's longstanding partnership with this important landmark Harlem restaurant and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. Co-chairs of the evening were Anne-Marie Embiricos, Reby B. Gulcan, Amanda K. Low, Christopher Moore and Maria Vecchiotti, and members of the committee included Jamie Bahar, Jill A. Davis, Amy Hudson, Hiroko Murase, Noreene Storrie, and Cathy Trentalancia. Many generous underwriters made the evening possible, including corporate sponsor Morrison and Forrester, LLP. |
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| This past Wednesday night, at the powerhouse Arena in Brooklyn, more than 300 of New York’s most acclaimed writers, translators, editors, agents, and pubishers gathered at the power/House Arena in Brooklyn under the auspices of the PEN American Center to celebrate new books published in 2013 and the fruits of free expression. The diversity of PEN’s membership was reflected in the event’s co-hosts: Poet Laureate of Brooklyn Tina Chang, Jezebel founder Anna Holmes, novelists Mitchell Jackson and Dani Shapiro, and author Gary Shteyngart, whose new memoir was published earlier this month. Distinguished and longstanding PEN Members such as Ron Chernow, Elissa Schappell, Roxana Robinson, Lev Grossman, and Elinor Lipman mingled with up-and-coming writers including B.J. Novak, Marie-Helene Bertino, Paul Rome, Patty Chang Anker, Caleb Crain, Mark Binelli, and Dina Nayeri. New PEN Member Lena Dunham, creator of the HBO original series Girls, curated the music for the evening, while Rosie Schaap, author of last year’s memoir Drinking with Men, created literary-themed cocktails courtesy of liquor sponsors Hendrick’s Gin and Zyr Russian Vodka. Brooklyn Brewery donated the beer. |
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| Co-hosts and new members offered touching and often hilarious testimonials of their experience as PEN members. “I grew up in a totalitarian society where I was not allowed to express myself,” said Shteyngart. “ I’m talking about Hebrew school in Queens!” He continued, “PEN helps writers in all parts of the world, from Vladivostok to Kew Gardens Hills. And that is something that you are helping to support right now. The people who you are helping are forever, forever a part of what you do." PEN Executive Director Suzanne Nossel ended the night with a call to action, encouraging all in attendance to send a postcard or email to Chinese President Xi Jinping demanding the freedom of PEN member and poet Liu Xia, who has been under house arrest in Beijing since her husband, jailed writer and Independent Chinese PEN Center President Liu Xiaobo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. |
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| PEN American Center is a community of 3,500 writers working to bring down barriers to free expression worldwide. Its distinguished members carry on the achievements in literature and advancement of human rights of such past members as Langston Hughes, Arthur Miller, and Susan Sontag. To learn more, visit www.pen.org. |
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| Greeted by the glitter of butterflies, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts 2014 Gala chairs, committee, and its supporters, were treated to a kickoff event at Neiman Marcus Palm Beach. Gala leadership, including chair Monika Preston and honorary chair Kathryn C. Vecellio, were on site to welcome guests and thank them for their support. Guests were treated to a fashion show including designs by Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Naeem Khan, Balenciaga, Valentino, Chole, Lavin, Peter Pilotto, Erdem and as a special treat the finale was Oscar de la Renta's Spring 2014 collection. The show highlighted popular spring trends, including pinks, layered bracelets and mint greens. |
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| Prior to the exclusive fashion show, Beth Pine, vice president and general manager of Neiman Marcus Palm Beach welcomed guests and then introduced Mrs. Preston who greeted the crowd and thanked them for their generous support with special mention given to the junior co-chairs Cameron Preston, Angela Vecellio and Tara Vecellio. She shared that their, "youthful energy and spirit has been instrumental in helping to plan the Gala, and I am so appreciative of their time and support." Mrs. Preston continued by stating, "Alvin Ailey is currently the hot ticket in New York City and we are thrilled that they will be the entertainment for the 2014 Gala. The Kravis Gala is a fun event, with a young group of supporters and everyone is invited to join us at this year's gala, which is predicted to be one of the most enjoyable of the season." |
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| The annual black-tie affair will begin with a reception in the Shapiro Founders' Room at the Kravis Center, followed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance in Dreyfoos Hall and a dinner dance in the Gimelstob Ballroom located in the Cohen Pavilion. Gala committee members include Michael Bracci, Mark Freitas, Robert Fromer, Irene Karp, John Kessler, Ted Mandes, William Meyer, Laurie Silvers and Dom Telesco. |
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| Gala sponsors include Martin Axman, The Breakers, Stephen Brown and Jamie Stern, Alec and Miriam Flamm, Diane and Bruce Halle, Henni and John Kessler, Dorothy and Sidney Kohl, Ingrid and David Kosowsky, Jack and Goldie Wolfe Miller Fund, Jane M. Mitchell, Neiman Marcus, Helen K. Persson, Monika and John Preston, Sabadell Bank & Trust, SBA Communications Corporation, Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein, Kathryn and Leo Vecellio; Tiffany & Co. for special support, and Classical South Florida and Palm Beach Illustrated for media support. Tickets for this year's Gala are $750 for the Gala Patron, and $375 for the Young Gala Patron (45 years old and younger). For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.kravis.org or call (561) 651-4320. |
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Photographs by Patrick McMullan; Corby Kaye's Studio Palm Beach (Kravis Center) |