After 36 hours of rainfall

Looking West towards the Manhattan skyline from the Long Island Expressway. 7:00 PM. Photo: JH.

Monday, June 10, 2013. A beautiful Summer weekend in New York. Perfect weather after 36 hours of rainfall (most of it light but steady).

Yesterday my friend Beverley Jackson out in Santa Barbara sent me these photos of the jacaranda trees which are now in full bloom all over Southern California. These photos are from SB but I was reminded that there are streets in the flats of Beverly Hills right now that are lined with these extraordinarily beautiful trees. And as their blossoms drop, they form a rich, delicate apron of lavender across the sidewalks, lawns and roadways. Their blossom time is brief, but a wonder – and a hopeful one – to see.

The jacaranda trees in full bloom in Southern California.

Now and Then. I missed a couple of major galas last week because of previous personal commitments (seeing an old friend I hadn’t seen in years, etc.), but they deserve mentioning because they are special events annually.

The first was the annual Conservatory Ball at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx with its 250 acres of dazzling beauty and magnificent landscape. This party used to be the milestone ending the official social season in New York. It’s not anymore because the Social Season in New York doesn’t end. Many of those who attended (and still attend) the Conservatory Ball would afterwards then depart the city for their summer places (hence the idea of “the end”). No doubt many still do.

However, leaving or staying, the benefit is notable because of the venue – the extraordinary Botanical Garden in the Bronx – and because the volunteers who make it happen create a beautiful dinner dance – which is a pleasure just to see because it is notably civilized (remember that word?) and fun. At the end of the planning, as you can see, everyone turns out in their best and brightest.

The entrance to the New York Botanical Garden's annual Conservatory Ball.

The evening always begins outside (and in the garden when it’s not raining – as it was Thursday night) with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. This year marked the inaugural event for Stephen Starr Events, which is the new on-site catering partner of the Botanical Garden. Starr restaurants, such as Buddakan, Morimoto and Caffe Storico – are very popular here in Manhattan and so much attention was alerted when the hors d’oeuvres were passed.

The tent and flowers were done by Bowman Dahl Floral & Event Design. The theme was “An Evening in the Italian Renaissance Garden of Padua.” The evening included a special viewing of Wild Medicine: Healing Plants Around the World Featuring the Italian Renaissance Garden inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

This year marked the inaugural event for Stephen Starr Events, which is the new on-site catering partner of the Botanical Garden.

Gala Chairs of the evening were Mrs. Eric Fast, Mrs. Charles B. Johnson, Mrs. Timothy George and Mrs. Sylvester Miniter IV. Honorary Chairs were Mrs. Jeremy Biggs, Mrs. Richard Chilton, Mrs. B. Robert Williamson, Jr. The Chairman’s Committee was: Mrs. Coleman Burke, Mrs. Chirstopher Cuomo, Mrs. Marvin Davidson, Andrea Henderson Fahnestock, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Mrs. John Hilson, Mrs. Carlisle Jones, Mrs. Edward Kaplan, Mrs. John Robsinon, Mrs. Robert K. Steel, Mrs. George P. Taylor V, Carmen M Thain and Mish Tworkowski. Alexandra Lebenthal, Amy Todd Middleton and Kimberly Putzer were Journal Chairman – not a small matter as the gala’s annual journals produce a lot of revenue.

All proceeds from the evening support the core mission of the Garden, including internationally acclaimed programs in children’s education and plant research and conservation. The ongoing generosity of their loyal friends is crucial. It helps the Garden continue its mission of public education, scientific research, and stewardship of our landmark site.

Although we weren’t there, Patrick McMullan was out in full force, and on today’s Party Pictures Page, we included several dozen of some of the Best Dressed men and women in New York who attended the Ball.

The passed hors d'oeuvres from "An Evening in the Italian Renaissance Garden of Padua.”

And Now: The other major benefit this week was The Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner and Auction Celebrating the Arts, held last Tuesday at the Plaza. The evening’s honorees were Peter Beard, Swizz Beatz, Donna Karan, and Carrie Mae Weems. Bryan Stokes Mitchell was the honoree and also the evening’s Special Musical Guest. The auction was conducted by the incomparably droll Hugh Hildesley from Sotheby’s.

This particular benefit has a quite different flavor from the Botanical last Thursday night. It is also a fairly new entry to the gala benefit scene. I can’t remember when I went to the first one but it was only several years ago. Mr. Parks died only six years ago (at 93). By then he was long regarded as a Master Photographer, famous for his photographic essays for LIFE and for directing the 1971 hit film “Shaft.” He is rightfully regarded as one of the seminal figures of 20th century photography but also a great humanitarian with a deep commitment to social justice.

Jessica Kneeland, Autumn Potter, Chuck Close, Danielle Michaan, and Sara Petrovski

Alison Weisser, Matthew Porterfield, Alexandra White, Sam Wathen, and Zoe Haydock

The work of the Foundation which benefits from this particular gala is to permanently preserve Gordon Parks’ works and to make them available to the public through exhibitions, books and electronic media, and to support artistic and educational activities that advance what Parks described as: “the common search for a better life and a better world.”

When I say the evening has quite a different flavor from the black tie gala at the Botanical, just take a look at the pictures, also on the Party Picture Page. It is now a very successful event, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd. This is the New York of artists and models, designers and fashion people. You can be sure they have a good time when they congregate for a cause such as this, and you can see it in the pictures.

Jeff Hoone, Pamela Vander Zwan, Faith Weems Jackson, Carrie Mae Weems, Rachel Chanoff, and Mark Robbins

Shelly Fremont, Steven M. L. Aronson, Debra Beard, and Vincent Fremont


	Click to orderNew York Interiors.

Also last week, galas and benefits aside, up at the Gerald Bland Gallery on 90th and Madison (1262 Madison), there was a book signing for Barbara and Rene Stoeltie, writer and photographer respectively of their new book “New York Interiors; Bold Elegant Refined” with a Foreward by Kenneth Jay Lane. (Flammarion).

The Stoelties have been collaborating for the past three decades on more than 40 art, lifestyle and interiors books (including “Parisian Interiors: Bold Elegant Refined -- also Flammarion 2011). If you interested in this kind of work, you may have seen articles they’ve done for Vogue, World of Interiors, Architectural Digest and Maison Francaise.

I expected another interior designer’s book before I opened it. Not so. Designers, yes; interiors, yes, but more than that, what Kenny Lane referred to as the “rich multiplicity of the city interiors.” Interesting New Yorkers whose interesting lives are reflected in the surroundings they’ve made for themselves.

Stoeltie’s photographs evoke the feeling the New York of Edith Wharton’s eye and sensibility if she were writing today ...