(Long Island, N.Y.) Broadway Producer, Actress and Singer Bette Midler hosted her annual Hulaween event to benefit the New York Restoration Project at the Waldorf Astoria Friday night on October 28th, 2011.
Bette’s Broadway Production, “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” was awarded a 2011 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for Academy Award winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s designs. Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in addition to Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nominations was awarded the Theatre World Award for outstanding Broadway debut. At this year’s gala entertainment was provided by the legendary Stevie Wonder and a costume contest judged by fashion designer Michael Kors was part of the night’s Halloween Gala.
On the red carpet Bette chatted with me about the New Restoration Project’s goals for this year and that saving parks in Long Island is in the near future.
In 1995, the city of Manhattan experienced a revolution that would alter its landscape forever. Returning to New York City that helped launch her celebrated career, famed entertainer Bette Midler found many of its streets, neighborhoods and parks consumed by a sea of litter and years of neglect.
“I was so upset; I didn’t sleep for weeks… People were throwing their garbage out the window, leaving their lunches on the ground. Finally, I realized I needed to actually do something – even if it meant picking up trash with my own two hands.”
New York Restoration Project has played a significant role in restoring Northern Manhattan’s Fort Washington Park and Fort Tryon Park, both located in Northern Manhattan and the first of NYRP Founder Bette Midler’s efforts to return these valuable public spaces to their greatest green glory. New York Restoration Project is also responsible for conceiving, developing, executing and administrating the vibrant and versatile Swindler Cove Park, a former illegal dumping site transformed by NYRP into a gorgeous green space and center of the organization’s environmental education programming designed to engage school children and local residents in urban nature and outdoor activities.
New York Restoration Project mission is working hand-in-hand with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to reclaim, restore and revitalize more than 400 acres of the city’s most-needed public green spaces and their adjacent communities.
Celebrities that attended the gala included: Stevie Wonder, Jane Krakowski, Debra Messing, Michael Kors, Rene Fleming, Narciso Rodriguez, John McEnroe and Patty Smyth, Alan Cumming, Elettra Wiedemann, Martha Stewart, Sam Champion, Judy Gold, Rick Bayless, Sandra Lee and Thalia Mottola.
For more information on how you can support the New York Restoration Project please visit www.nyrp.org.
Radio Host Andy Troy hosted his Annual Halloween Bash also on Friday, October 28th, 2011 at Taj Lounge 48 W 21st Street between 5th & 6th Avenues. TastingNYC.com is a site owned and operated by well known writer, personal trainer and fitness personality Andy Troy. Andy is the author of, “Living Young: 32 Habits of Ageless People” and the creator of the popular fitness DVD, “The Bedroom Workout for Men”. A life-long New Yorker, Andy hosts monthly events throughout the city, including wine tastings, which often feature a wide variety of entertainment. You can contact him at: AndyfTroy@aol.com.
Mr. Troy has appeared on a segment of “The Tyra Banks Show” and was the subject of a segment for Insight Film’s new TV show, “The Straight Goods.” Andy has penned numerous magazine articles on fitness related topics and has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Counseling.
For more information regarding his radio show please visit www.andytroy.com and for more information about his social events please visit www.tastingnyc.com.
On Long Island Splashes of Hope hosted their Halloween Benefit at the historical Coindre Hall.
Coindre Hall is a 40 room, 30,000-square-foot mansion lavishly designed in the style of a medieval French château constructed in 1912 for pharmaceutical magnate George McKesson Brown. The stately mansion also castle overlooks 34 acres of beautifully landscaped land including a boathouse on the north shore of Long Island adjacent to Long Island Sound. Brown lost ownership of the property after the stock market crash of 1929. At the request of Bishop Monsignor Thomas Molly, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart bought this property to establish a boarding school and summer retreat.
Since 1973 Coindre Hall Park has been administered by the Suffolk County Department of Parks. On September 26th, 1985 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and dedicated to the Suffolk County Historic Trust. It is often used for hosting upscale catered events.
Splashes of Hope was founded in 1996 by Artist Heather Buggée as a reaction to her own life experiences in standard medical settings. During her tenure at art school Heather spent a great deal of time with a close acquaintance suffering from Hodgkin’s in a local hospital.
During that quality time together they both decided they could change the hospital surroundings. Propelled by their artistic instincts, they envisioned that it might be feasible to make the hospital’s sterile environment a place that was more conducive to the healing process by improving its aesthetics and adding positive imagery.
Their first project came from Blythedale Children’s Hospital where the nurses asked for hand-painted ceiling tiles for sick children. The imagery could be used in various areas of the hospital and can be easily removed and replaced. A child having a particularly difficult time could have a tile added to his or her room to create visual stimuli to take their imagination beyond hospital walls.
Since its beginnings over 200 volunteers have assisted making Heather’s vision of colorful and comforting hospital interiors a reality.
Today Splashes consistently works with volunteer artists to bring murals to as many facilities as possible. Additionally, they have an Executive Board and Advisory Board of dedicated business leaders and professionals. It has been through the firm support of dedicated members that Splashes of Hope has been able to flourish and grow into an international organization, receiving mural requests from facilities throughout the United States and the world.
For more information on how you can donate please visit www.splashesofhope.org.
