On Thursday, November 19, 2009, the Little Baby Face Foundation held its seventh annual benefit, "Believe in Miracles VII" at the New York Athletic Club on Central Park South in Manhattan. More than 300 guests gathered for cocktails and a buffet dinner to honor Dr. Deborah Pilla, a dedicated member of the foundation's Medical Advisory Board. A video was screened highlighting her work providing dental evaluations to the children at the foundation. Many of the foundation's patients attended including some from Morocco, Greece, Ecuador and Staten Island, NY.

The Little Baby Face Foundation provides corrective surgery for children born with facial deformities, nationally and worldwide, regardless of a family's ability to pay. For more information, visit www.littlebabyface.org.

On Tuesday, November 24th, the New York City Ballet (NYCB) celebrated the start of the 2009-2010 season and the opening of the newly renovated David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. The performance featured the world premier of the ballet by Peter Martins to John Adams' Naïve and Sentimental Music. The piece featured twenty-six principal dancers with costumes by fashion designer Liliana Casabal of Morgane Le Fay. The supper ball following the 7:00PM performance featured a gourmet meal from Glorious Food. Guests in attendance were David Koch, Julia Koch, Mila Kunis, Darren Aronofsky, Talicia Martins, Elise Overland, Fe Fendi, Gillian Miniter,  Diana Picasso, and Natalie Portman.

Indochine Restaurant celebrated their 25th anniversary on Friday night and I have to say that anniversaries always make me sentimental. Very rarely are we given the opportunity to celebrate anyone or anything's longevity, especially here in New York. I think the rule of thumb is anything that's great has a life span of about a month and a half before it becomes, well, bridge and tunnel. (a.k.a. Jersey, if I need to spell it out for you).  So anytime I have the opportunity to celebrate anything that has held up for a while, I'm just at a loss of words.

Before Friday, the last anniversary I celebrated was for my friend Jacob's parents. It was kind of an anniversary. See, it was the 25th anniversary of the renewal of their marriage vows. In the early eighties, Jacob's dad, Joseph, had a split with Jacob's mom ... Read More

graffiti found on Lafayette (off Bleecker Street) by HACULLA
NYC
November 21, 2009
Photo: Anita Antonini

Exclusive Collection at Bergdorf Goodman
NYC, November 19, 2009

Back in 2006, Blake Mycoskie thought to himself, “I'm going to start a shoe company, and for every pair that we sell, I'll give a pair to someone who needs them”. An earnest thinker and doer, Blake became the founder of TOMS Shoes, that has given away more than 150,000 pairs of shoes to date. The company name is derived from the word tomorrow: As in, taking steps towards building a better tomorrow. The initiative named One For One started giving in Argentina and has expanded to areas in South Africa and most recently Haiti.

This Chief Shoe Giver, makes the phrase, “put your best foot forward” seem simple. TOMS is a proud member of the Clinton Global Initiative and now has, Friends of TOMS, the non-profit arm of TOMS Shoes. The man, himself, also has eco-friendly good looks and a charismatic ... Read More

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, The French American Foundation held its annual fund raising gala at Manhattan's debonair Capitale. The event was hosted by Ambassador of France to the United States Pierre Vimont, Consul General of France Philippe Lalliot and the foundation's Board of Directors. This year gathered an accomplished crowd of international liaisons, business leaders and social authorities to honor Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault Nissan Alliance, and Arthur A. Hartman, former US Ambassador to France and the Soviet Union, for their efforts to strengthen French-American business relations.



Drinks and hors d'oeuvres were served including delicately smoked salmon dolloped with a dreamy cream sauce on thinly sliced cucumber. Following the reception, TV host and emcee for the evening Kate Snow invited guests to join her in the reception hall for Dinner.

Among the destinguished guests were ... Read More

Gallery season is upon us, and last week I went to one of the first in what I am sure will be a long procession of well-curated shows. This particular show has a larger purpose than just displaying art. The PARC Foundation presented an exhibition by Invisible Children called INVISIBLE: FROM DARKNESS TO SIGHT. It was a walk through what it's like to be a child soldier in Uganda, where Africa's longest-running war still rages.

Read More at Sundance Channel…

The last thing I remember was losing myself in Robert Pattinson's eyes. He arrived at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, Thursday evening; with that "a stiff breeze is perfectly shaping my beautiful mane" look. He had just a kiss of scruff on his chin and when the cameras started flashing things started getting a little fuzzy.

The next thing I knew, I was in the Pacific Northwest in the middle of a thunderstorm playing baseball. It all seemed strange but oddly familiar, and I was just happy to be with Robert again, whom I had seen only moments before at a premier in New York. How had I gotten here? Maybe he carried me on his back? I sure hope so.

A moment later I awoke (apparently I had been dreaming) back in New York amongst the flash of the cameras, but this time ... Read More

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, The Young Patrons Circle of American Friends of the Louvre held an event with Elie Tahari under the elegant chandelier in their Soho location. Guests were treated to champagne and white wine along with a selection of delectable hors d'oeuvres made specially by Tahari's private chef.

Special guests included Alixe Laughlin, Larissa Whitney, Anne Huntington, David Chines, Daniel Colon Jr., Sean Stevens, Elizabeth Grimaldi, Jennifer Collins, Carolyn Cass and Tracy Stern.


Designer Elie Tahari believes that "the individual should speak louder than his or her clothes and creates fashions to accent personal character." For more information visit www.elietahari.com.

On Wednesday, November 18, 2009, Waldorf=Astoria Hotels & Resorts Global Head of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands John Vanderslice hosted a celebration of 21 Destinations to Discover and to welcome the newest member of their elegant family, Waldorf=Astoria Orlando, in a suite high above Manhattan at the Waldorf Towers. A well fashioned crowd in dress, suits and a few ties arrived for signature cocktails and a buffet of hors d'oeuvres with citrusy Floridian flair. To the delight of all, each guests was presented with one two-night, weekend getaway for use at one of the Florida Waldorf=Astoria Hotels & Resorts.

On Wednesday, November 18, 2009, Olivia Palermo, Peter Davis, and our own Patrick McMullan  hosted a celebration for Minnie Mortimer's Spring 2010 collection in Manhattan's new hot spot yet to open at The East Side Social Club, no one can get in without an invite it opens Monday, November 23, 2009. Minnie arrived in style with a handful of her closest friends wearing some select pieces of her new bright and beachy spring collection.

The select few invited to the intimate dinner were Lauren Remington Platt, Bettina Prentice, Rachelle Hruska, Carlos Souza, Valerie Boster, Serena Nikkhah, Topper Mortimer, Annelise Peterson, Gigi Mortimer, Ally Hilfiger, Andrew Saffir, Johannes Huebl, Happy Massee, Ali Wise, Hayley Bloomingdale, Richard Johnson, Elise Overland, Jackie Astier, ... Read More

Louis Vuitton hosted a reception following the lighting of the UNICEF snowflake on Thursday evening, November 19th at the Louis Vuitton flagship store.