Summer cocktailing

The scene at The Studio Museum in Harlem's summer opening reception.

The New York Stem Cell Foundation's annual summer cocktail party was held this year on July 19th at the spectacular waterfront home of Margo and Bob Alexander in Amagansett, at Barnes Landing overlooking Gardiner's Bay. Margo Alexander is a member of the board of NYSCF, which was founded in 2005 to accelerate the search for cures through stem cell research, and now operates its own research institute in New York where the most cutting-edge stem cell research in the country is done.

In addition to the 40-plus researchers in its own laboratory, NYSCF also supports more than 60 stem cell scientists working in major research institutions around the world. At the Alexanders, guests heard Susan Solomon, co-founder and CEO of NYSCF, describe the foundation's work, and NYSCF scientists Valentina Fossati, who is working toward a cure for multiple schlerosis, and Danny Freytes, a bioengineer working in tissue engineering, explain their research. Among the guests at the Alexanders were Shirley Cook, CEO of Proenza-Schouler; Jodie and John Eastman; Jill Furman and Roy Furman; Herbert and Svetlana Wachtell; Marcia and Jonathan Sobel; Barbara and Alan Washkowitz; Alice Shure and Paul Dupee; Katama Eastman; Valerie Heller and Gail and Dr. Roy Geronemus.

Valentina Fossati PhD, Susan Solomon, and Margo Alexander

Bob and Margo Alexander with Oliver

Scott Noggle, PhD, Donald O. Freytes, PhD, Valentina Fossati, PhD, Dieter Egli, PhD, and Scott Dipnick, PhD

Gail Geronemus, Lauren Noggle, and Scott Noggle PhD

Missy Falkenberg and Bill Priest

Jeff Wallerstein, Paul Goldberger, Svetlana Wachtell, Herbert Wachtell, and Dieter Egli, PhD

Tina Louise

Elliot Weiss and Lauren Thayer

Melissa and Ben Goldberger

Susan Solomon, Dorothy Frankel, Kathy Bristor, and Margo Alexander

Alan Washkowitz, Barbara Washkowitz, Jill Furman, and Roy Furman

Alex Goldberger and Carolyna De Laurentiis

Marcia Dunn and Jon Sobel

Stephen Chang, PhD and Tom Twomei

Julia Grimes, Valentina Fossati, PhD, and Katama Eastman

Tom Twomei and John Eastman

Victoria Gordon and Scott Lipnick, PhD

Christine Lin, Piero Incisa, and Shirley Cook

Ellen Krass and Ed Bleier

Elizabeth Nash, Tom Nash, Valentina Fossati, PhD, and Piero Incisa

Margo Alexander, Susan Solomon, Sue Steinberg, and Ellen Krass

Last Wednesday a week, the Studio Museum in Harlem held an opening reception for its Summer 2013 exhibitions.

Agnes Gund and Thelma Golden

Peter Sung and Derek Adams

Cullen Washington

Thelma Goden and David Adjaye

Majora Carter, Val Style, and Timothy Stockton

Charles Rosen, Monique Long, and Duke Dang

Maxine McCrey and Chaka Tonge

Jeanette Waters and Shannon Ali

Rashad Bailey and Donia Allen

Becca London and Sophia Popovits

Danny Abel, Abbe Schriber, and Vivian Crockett

Gerald L. Leavell and Ivan Ford

Sue Ding and Evi Briggs

Dana Liss and Caitlin Cherry

Ruben Kennedy and Dane Campbell

Clifford Temple

Sonia Louise Davis and Kim Drew

Christy Kemison and Abbe Schriber

Ryan Lee, Timothy Stockton, and Cheryl R. Riley

Rashad Bailey and Samantha Osborne

Henry Cruz, Kenrick Shere, and Timothy Stockton

Felicia Crabtree and Susan Wright

Jennifer Packer and Elizabeth Gwinn

Rafi Crockett

Elan Ferguson and Malaika Laga

Jane Penn and Hans Parker

Erin Campbell, Ike Kitman, Robin Cembalest, and Virginia Sanchez

Norris Robinson

Robert Pruitt and Naima Keith

On Thursday night July 11, 2013, Tricia and Jason Pantzer hosted a benefit for the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at their home in East Hampton. This benefit evening featured Jeffrey Siegel performing his Keyboard Conversations with an all Gershwin program. The evening of music and mingling conveyed the essence of camaraderie and cultural interest.

The event began with a cocktail reception followed by a warm welcome by AFIPO Board Member Tricia Pantzer. Jeffrey Siegel then took the spotlight with a presentation of music and conversation in the Pantzer’s gorgeous contemporary living room. After performing, Mr. Siegel entertained questions from the audience.

The Pantzer living room.

Dozens of patrons attended the event including Ninah and Michael Lynne, Allison Berg, Danielle and Hayim Grant, AFIPO Board Member Pamela Henes and Jonathan Henes, Deborah Colacino, Pam and Ed Pantzer, Joan and Ed Cohen, Cindy and Matthew Mark, Marcie and Jordan Pantzer, Lisa and Michael Barr, and Jen Harris among others.

Danielle Grant, Cara Klein, Tricia Pantzer, Lisa Barr, Cindy Mark, and Jennifer Harris

Jason Pantzer, Jeffrey Fine, Jonathan Henes, Jeffrey Klein, and Matthew Mark

Edward Pantzer, Barbara Heyman, and Michael and Ninah Lynne

Tricia Pantzer, Wendy Chaikin, and Pamela Henes

Cara Klein and Deborah Colacino

Pamela and Edward Pantzer

Jason and Tricia Pantzer with Marcie and Jordan Pantzer

Ed Cohen and Mark Cohen

Jason and Tricia Pantzer, Jeffrey Siegel, Joan and Edward Cohen

Jonathan Morgan and Alexandra Engler

William and Wandy Hoh

Chicago, IL: On June 25, an intimate group of 65 supporters gathered at RL for the fifth annual “Early Birds & Bookworms,” an exclusive book signing and author breakfast hosted by Bunky Cushing to benefit the Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC). Guests enjoyed a delicious breakfast before hearing from Pamela Fiori, former editor-in-chief of Town & Country and author of "In the Spirit Of Palm Beach." The event raised more than $15,000 to support the mission of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus (JASC).

Bunky Cushing has supported the fundraising efforts of numerous organizations in Chicago including the Howard Brown Health Center, English-Speaking Union, Chicago Historical Society, and the American Friends of Versailles.

Coffee reception at Ralph Lauren before Author Breakfast with guest Pamela Fiori

The Jane Addams Senior Caucus was founded in 1976 and has organized to improve the quality of life for senior citizens by winning improvement in safety, affordable housing and health care, such as founding the White Crane Wellness Center. The primary goal is to develop senior leadership and organized power for social justice. For more information please visit http://www.seniorcaucus.org/.

Jennifer Lane, Darby Hills, and Toni Canada

Liz Stiffel and Kathy Piccone

Marcia Buchanan, Pamela Fiori, and Judith Scholl Lee

Marcy Gookin and Gia McDermott

Joan Moore, Gabriela Cleveland, and Cindy Yingling

Elizabeth Price and Carlette McMullan

Hazel Barr and Sean Eshaghy

Bunky Cushing and Pamel Fiori

Melissa Babcock and Kristina McGrath

JP Anderson and Megan McKinney Whitfield

Will Jablonski and Heather Ingram

Mamie Walton, Stanley Paul and Nancy Kelley

The Freer Sackler Galleries of The Smithsonian Institution along with Tiffany Dubin, Ann Nitze, Susan Pillsbury, and Sana Sabbagh hosted a tea and champagne reception on Tuesday afternoon, July 16, at Gem Palace’s Private Salon (49 East 74th Street).

It was a glittering afternoon among friends with some of the world’s most dazzling jewels in anticipation of the Freer Sackler Galleries Gala, Some Enchanted Evening, which will be held on October 17 at The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas are the Gala's Honorary Co-Chairs.

Gem Palace's Jewels

Two dozen guests included: Mrs. Kenneth A. Buckfire, Ms. Tiffany Dubin, Ms. Christophe de Menil and Miss Alina Morini, Ms. Marjorie Reed Gordon, Ms. Jane Stanton Hitchcock, Marife Hernandez, Kathleen B. Hearst, Lily Hoagland, Marianna Kaufman, Siddharth Kaliwal (owner of Gem Palace), Karen Klopp, Ms. Patricia Kluge and Miss. Keesha Johnson, Lisa Miller, Ms. Ann Nitze, Jana Pasquel de Shapiro, Ms. Katharine Rayner, Jane Richards, Ms. Sana Sabbagh, Mrs. Jonathan M. Tisch, Ms. Laurie Tisch, Ms. Elizabeth Farran Tozer and Katy Zeigler.