MillionTreesNYC and NYRP’s 10th Annual Spring Picnic El Museo’s 2011 Gala Grand Opening and Reception Soirée for Evolution Fitness and Heat Wave to benefit Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic
(Long Island, N.Y.) On May 25th celebrities and guests came to celebrate MillionTreesNYC and NYRP’s partnership with the City of New York at the 10th Annual Spring Picnic. Supporters enjoyed cocktails and a tented dinner along panoramic views of the East River at the historic Gracie Mansion.
As a result of entertainer Bette Midler’s dream of a cleaner, greener New York City, she created The New York Restoration Project (NYRP). The organization’s mission is to restore, revitalize and develop under-resourced parks and community gardens throughout New York City’s five boroughs. The organization continues to work to ensure that every New York City resident, family and neighborhood has access to vibrant, green parks. By providing enriching educational and community programming, NYRP also works to instill both individual and civic respect for nature and responsibility for contributing to New York City’s environmental sustainability.
NYRP is among the private leadership partners in resurrecting a coalition to launch the MillionTreesNYC program; leverage public support for the tree-planting initiative as a key example of NYRP’s ability to lead citywide open-space initiatives.
The “Wind Beneath My Wings” performer chose a pair of bright yellow cropped trousers reminiscent of the 1960’s fashion perfect for an elegant afternoon soirée.
His honor Mayor Bloomberg was gracious enough to host the 10th Annual Spring Picnic with Bette Midler, film & singing star and founder of the New York Restoration Project.
Since 1995, the award-winning actress and singer has been a tireless, passionate and influential advocate for Manhattan’s most neglected and forgotten parks. She has been responsible for rescuing scores of community gardens in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city’s five boroughs. Bette’s initial and ultimate visions for the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and its role in the greening of New York City continues to encourage NYRP in both inspiration and execution at every level of the organization. Every year the event is held at Gracie Mansion.
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie structured a country habitat overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the City. Financial despair forced Gracie to sell his home to Joseph Foulke in 1823. In 1857 the landmark estate took ownership under Noah Wheaton. The City of New York appropriated the estate in 1896, incorporating its 11 acres of grounds into the newly-formed Carl Schurz Park.
After many decades of use as a concession stand Gracie Mansion was restored to a Museum of the City of New York. Eventually it was moved to a larger building becoming a historic house museum run by the Parks Department. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses convinced City authorities to designate it as the official residence of the Mayor and in 1942 Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia took residence.
The house was enlarged in 1966 with the addition of the Susan E. Wagner Wing which includes a grand ballroom and two intimate reception rooms. The Gracie Mansion Conservancy was established in 1981 and under its guidance the first major restoration was undertaken between 1981 and 1984.
In 2002, the interior and exterior were again restored, and the house was transformed into the “People’s House” with increased accessibility to the public and to City agencies. It has also been used to accommodate visiting officials and dignitaries such as former guests First Lady Rosalynn Carter and President Nelson Mandela. Celebrities that came to give their support for the NYRP Spring Picnic included Sherri Shepherd, Bette Midler, Judy Gold, Nikki Blonsky, Margo Nederlander, Jimmy Nederlander and Mayor Bloomberg.
For more information please visit www.nyrp.org.
Right before the Memorial Day Weekend celebrities attended El Museo’s 2011 Gala at the very glamorous Cipriani’s.
This year’s Gala honored one of the world’s most critically acclaimed fashion icons and photographers, Mario Testino. This year Mr. Testino was the recipient of El Museo’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in celebrating his 30-year career. Peruvian-born, Testino’s unique perspective was established by his Latin American heritage. His provocative portraits of Diana Princess of Wales, Madonna, Salma Hayek, Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow, and countless others, are considered masterpieces of art.
El Museo del Barrio, New York’s leading Latino museum continues to welcome an estimated 250,000 unique visitors annually to discover the artistic landscape of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American art and cultures. El Museo’s richness is represented in its critically acclaimed exhibitions and wide-ranging collections of film, literary, visual and performing arts series, cultural celebrations, and educational programs. El Museo is the artistic hub of cultural pride on New York society’s Museum Mile.
Actress Kate Winslet presented the El Museo’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Testino. This unique award was created especially by the artists of Asprey of London consisted of a sterling silver tray engraved with the signatures of thirty-five of Mario Testino’s dearest friends, supporters and colleagues.
After receiving the award, Mario Testino revealed “To receive this award from El Museo Del Brario is very special because it is an institution that supports and promotes the art and the artists of Latin America. Being recognized by my own people is particularly meaningful to me. It’s like the prodigal son returning home and being told that what he has done has been accepted and good. When I left Peru and my family wanted me to go into something more established, be it engineering, or an architect, or a doctor, and I told them that I would be a photographer, it was a shock – almost a letdown – as I had been such a good student at school. This evening makes me feel like its official, that I made the right choice.”
Six hundred guests came to give their support and a total of $1,000,000 in funds were raised for the museum. New York Socials Yaz and Valentin Hernandez along with Alex Gonzalez, new Creative Director of W Magazine and Raul Martinez, Design Director at Vogue, served as the evening’s co-chairs.
The Honorary Committee included for the event included: Jessica Alba, Pedro Almodovar, Kate Bosworth, Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Connelly, Francisco Costa, Hugh Dancy, Oscar de la Renta, Linda Evangelista, Victoria Fernandez, Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett, Carolina Herrera, Kate Hudson, Elizabeth Hurley, Michael Kors, Sienna Miller, Candy Pratts Price, Narciso Rodriguez, Claudia Schiffer, Stella Tennant and Donatella Versace.
Celebrities that attended included: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Alenis Sosa, Alex Gonzalez, Alexander Shoong, Alexandra Lebenthal, Alexandra Richards, Alexis Clark, Ambassador John Loeb Jr, Amber Testino, Ana Wintour, Andre Balazs, Andres Pardo, Andy Unanue, Angel Sanchez, Angelica Fuentes, Angelique Serrano, Anna Wintour, Arnold Rosenshein, Barbara Regna, Candice Swanepoel, Carlos Campos, Cat Greenleaf, Fashion Designer Christian Cota, Donatella Versace, Fe Fendi, Felicia Taylor, Giovanni Testino, Actress Kate Winslet, Actor Matt Raimo, Fashion Designer Narciso Rodriguez, Sharon Bush, Yaz Hernandez and Yoly Davis.
For more information please visit www.elmuseo.org.
The Hamptons Memorial Day Weekend kicked off with a Grand Opening and Reception Soirée for Evolution Fitness in Southampton, New York.
At the event I briefly spoke to owner Jason Cofield who is a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Air Force veteran. Mr. Cofield is hoping that his new establishment will make a splash with Hamptonites. During our interview he mentioned that he renovated the old gym into a boutique gym in Southampton Village to set it apart from other local gyms. Later his wife Mani Malee of Hamptons Angels discussed the fabulous amenities that the gym offers.
Cofield along with his partner Scott Wilson invested $250,000 into renovating the space formerly known as Radu Fitness. Over the past few months, Cofield transformed the 8,500-square-foot space into a warm, upscale gym, he said “The prior gym had a more industrial feel.”
Cofield wants to establish Evolution Fitness as a premier gym offering so much more from the legions of other Hamptons gyms by offering a glamorous atmosphere with a personal, friendly feel and special offers. “It’s about customer service,” Cofield revealed.
Mr. Cofield worked as a personal trainer at Bally’s Total Fitness in Lake Grove after leaving the Air Force.
At the event Evolution offered free classes and tours of the facility, and a special one-day-only membership sign-up discount. Guests enjoyed a cocktail party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring red carpet photos, a DJ, complimentary wine, Champagne, and hors d’oeuvres.
At 7 p.m. Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley welcomed the Evolution Fitness family and new establishment to the Southampton community with a red-ribbon cutting.
Since its unofficial opening on May 7, Evolution Fitness is quickly becoming the premiere fitness facility among Hamptonites and celebrity regulars because of its range of fitness options, friendly ambiance, state-of-the-art equipment and expert staff.
For more information please visit www.evolutionhamptons.com.
During Memorial Day weekend Hamptonities enjoyed Heat Wave to benefit Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic at the The Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club in Bridgehampton.
The elegant event was hosted by special guest Andy Cohen of Bravo TV. Guests enjoyed an art show and sale, pop-up boutiques, silent auction, music, film, fashion, fun, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the ocean.
Proceeds will support PPHP’s medical and education services in Suffolk County. Planned Parenthood’s mission statement is to “To empower individuals to determine their own sexual health and reproductive futures.”
PPHP’s role is with cultural sensitivity to all communities. Their efforts are to provide exceptional health services, accurate information, education, and fearless advocacy for reproductive rights and justice. PPH.org believes it is the right and responsibility of every individual to make their own decisions in reproductive health.
The organization believes in universal and unfettered access to confidential, respectful, high-quality reproductive healthcare for all individuals regardless of their economic status, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or geographic location.
Planned Parenthood continually encourages responsibility to ensure public health policies that promote sound and responsible sexual health. PPH believes that all individuals deserve the opportunity to benefit from honest and accurate sexuality education.
For more information please visit www.plannedparenthood.org.
