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Added: March 28, 2006, 1:58 pm	Share    Print    Email

Alvin Chereskin and Mildred Brinn at the Parrish Art Museum's annual "Spring Fling".

The Parrish Art Museum threw open their doors to welcome the first weekend of spring with their annual 'Spring Fling.' Eager to get their lighter party clothes and dance shoes out of storage, guests packed the museum and concert hall with bright colors and conversation. Mildred Brinn and Alvin Chereskin chaired this lovely event while Sara Herbert-Galloway, Susan Dorfman, John Christopher, Carol McCormack, Cathy and Tom Lupo, Susan Lazarus, Linda Clifford, Lynn Leff, Robert Florio, and Pam Collum among others danced the night away.

In the galleries, guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and several open bars as the looked over the exhibit on display, a local High School Exhibition and Competition collection. Also available were plentiful items on a silent auction table, including gift certificates to local restaurants - just in time for restaurant week - as well as golf packages from Friar's Head Golf Club, diamond earrings from Tiffany & Co. and more.

The concert hall gave homage to the evenings 'Magic of Motown' theme with the ever-sultry Creations who got guests up and dancing. So popular, in fact, it became difficult to navigate the crowd without 'dancing' your way through.

Despite the chill still lingering outside, inside the museum warmed up quickly as the successful 'spring fling' has helped to kick start the season. We can't wait for the warmer weather and outdoor parties to arrive. In the mean time, the coat check in the gift shop was definitely put to good use, and the chocolate mini gift bag had us parting in good spirits and counting the days till their annual 'Midsummer Party'.

Hamptons Restaurant Week sponsors at Fresno's. Photo by Pho- tography by Kurt.

The Hamptons Restaurant Week Executive Committee launched of the fourth annual Hamptons Restaurant Week with a kick-off party at Fresno (8 Fresno Place, East Hampton, NY 11937 [631] 324-8700) on Sunday, March 26th from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. to benefit the Culinary Arts Program at Suffolk Community College. Local chefs, restaurateurs, wineries and additional Hamptons Restaurant Week participants and sponsors stopped by for some cocktails and delicious nibbles courtesy of Fresno.

This year's sponsors include platinum sponsors Grey Goose L'Orange, Woodford Reserve Whiskey, Dewar's 12 and Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum, gold sponsor Bridgehampton National Bank, and silver sponsors FIJI Water and Hamptons Gym Corp. Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau also supports this event. Media Sponsors for the event include Blumenfeld & Fleming, Hamptons/Riverhead Radio Group (WBAZ, WBEA, WEHM, and WHBE), and Hamptons.com. Proceeds from the party went to the Suffolk Community College Culinary Arts Program.

Coco and Arie Kopelman at the New York City Opera Gala opening event. Photo courtesy of Lisa Lori Communications.

New York City Opera will opened its spring season on Tuesday, March 7th, 2006 with a gala dinner and performance of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. Following the setting of The Most Happy Fella, the evening, which raised over $1.5 million, was a Napa Valley celebration, honoring Ann Colgin of the acclaimed Colgin Cellars and included an exclusive wine and lifestyle auction.

With his immortal Guys and Dolls, Frank Loesser took the Broadway musical to glorious new heights. Then he raised the bar with his most lovable, most daring work of all: The Most Happy Fella, celebrating its 50th anniversary this season. Set in the Napa Valley, it follows the May-December romance between a lonely vineyard owner and his mail-order bride. Aging vineyard owner, Tony, courts a pretty young waitress, Rosabella, through the mail and wins her over with a marriage proposal with a picture enclosed. Afraid of rejection, though, he has sent a picture of his handsome foreman. Rosabella discovers the ruse, but true love brings about a most happy ending. A treasure trove of melodic riches, it encompasses the full spectrum of American musical theater, from heart melting love songs to pop hits, operatic solos to barbershop quartets, and heavenly choral numbers to razzle-dazzle showstoppers.

City Opera was to welcome award-winning actor Paul Sorvino in the role of Tony. Sorvino has appeared on stage in shows including Bajour, Mating Dance, An American Millionaire, Wheelbarrow Closers and Skyscraper.

Chesie Breen, Wendy Arriz, Alexandra Mandis, Katie Colgate, Ralph Lauren's Polo Bear, Elizabeth Fuller, Lisa Errico, Nicole Robinson, Courtney Moss, and Christina Addison at the 15th Annual Bunny Hop. Photo by Cutty McGill and Tutus Kana courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Associates Committee celebrated their 15th Annual Bunny Hop chaired by Katie Colgate, Courtney Moss and Alexandra Mandis on Tuesday, March 7. The event was sponsored by Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, which was represented by the life-sized, cuddly Polo Bear who was the evening's star. This year, 400 children and 500 adults attended and raised over $280,000 to benefit Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Department of Pediatrics. The vice chairs were Christina Addison, Wendy Arriz, Chesie Breen, Lisa Errico, Suzie Fairchild, Elizabeth Fuller and Nicole Robinson. It was held at FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue, where the legendary funfest began in 1992 as the brainstorm of Joanne de Guardiola.

New York's top event designer DeJuan Stroud turned the famous toy emporium into a wonderful spring garden with huge bunny paw prints and seven feet tall bunny filled boxwood topiaries decorating the entrance. A hot pink carpet and white picket fence complete with gate led to a garden arbor bedecked with a streaming arch of fragrant blossoms of pink, blue and white Hydrangea, cream Roses, Jasmine and Ivy. Blooming Tulips, Hyacinths, Daffodils and 101 Easter baskets were installed throughout the giant first and second floors of the store and added a clear Lucite table filled with about 18,000 jellybeans.

"All My Children" star Cameron Mathison, with his wife Vanessa and son Lucas, was a surprise guest as were Fire Fighters Michael DeSanctis, Manny Diaz and Captain Dave Morkal from New York's Engine 23 on East 58th Street. They came by with coloring books, plastic fireman hats and tips for fire safety.

Lucas, Cameron, and Vanessa Mathison at the 15th Annual Bunny Hop. Photo by Cutty McGill and Tutus Kana courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

Children enjoyed the entertainment of Magic Al, Radio City Rockettes, Kevin Kruger Party Kidz, Clifford the Red Dog, Swarovski Tattoos, Mikey Mike, Mad Hatters, Madeline, Mutts, Stinkie Pinkie, Apryl & Crystal Cadabra, Winnie-the-Pooh, Noo-noo from Teletubbies, NYC Photobooth and Peter Rabbit throughout the store. There was a real bunny to pet, face painting, cookie decorating, candy necklace making and shopping for all to partake in. A silent auction consisted of 15 packages that included a trip to the Ritz South Beach, The Four Seasons in Costa Rica and The Westin in Paris, as well as items from Tory Burch, The Carlyle Hotel, Cartier, Coach and Oscar de la Renta.

Claudine Revere's Relish Caterers served up delicious eats: Fresh Popped Pop Corn, Rainbow Cotton Candy, Sabrett Hot Dogs, Three Cheese Macaroni & Cheese, Cheese Burger Squares, Organic Chicken Breast Tenders and Fresh Baked French Bread Pizza; and desserts including fresh baked Mini-Cookies, Blondies, Fudge Brownies, Pecan Squares, Lemon Bars and nostalgic candy.

Among the guests were the Associates Committee Chairman Alexis Waller, former Bunny Hop chairs Stephanie Griswold, Leslie Heaney, Mary Darling, Jennifer Creel and Leslie Coleman who attended with their families. Others included the Society's President Vera Safai; Doubles Club's Wendy Carduner; Dana, Patrick, and Charlotte Stubgen; Barbara and Madeline McLaughlin; Ara, Rachel and Serena Hovnanian; Dayssi, Paul, Peter, Nicholas and Sophia Kanavos; Nicholas, Caroline, Catherine, Clementine and Cosima Toms; Chris and Nicholas Errico; Henry and Kate Doerge; Virginia Breen; Caroline, Nancy, and Sloane Sambuco; Kathy, Sophie and Andrew Thomas; Andrew Heaney with his adorable 4-month old daughter Emmeline; Simone, Matthew, Christopher and Chris Mailman; Christine, Meredith and Whitney Schott (It was Meredith's birthday!); Lisa, Philip, Isabelle and Charlie Gorrivan; Brooke and Avery Egerton-Warburton; George and Oliver Moss; Isabella, Tatiana and Steven Mandis; Wick, Colt and Millicent Waller; Allie, Charlotte and Kelly DeMarco; Kevin and Wyn Coleman.

Sophia, Dayssi, Nicholas, Paul and Peter Kanavos at the 15th Annual Bunny Hop. Photo by Cutty McGill and Tutus Kana courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

Additional attendees included Scott, Dillon and Sally Stephens, Leah and Luke McGrath, Tyler Levitt, Simone Hivemer, Gunner Albertson, Serena, Eric, and Sarah Barkley, Courtney Riddle, Kendall Brown, Allie Tillinghast, Phoebe Lightburn, Annabelle Janssens, Georgia Gordon, Emily Post, Alessia Spellman, Ava Humphrey, Alessia Spellman, Dylan, Greg, Luc, and Olivia Bosquette, Keri, Gabe and Tyler Levitt, Isabelle Villalba and Alessia Fendi.

"The Society Kids Kick in Committee" made up of children of members of the Associates and Board of The Society of MSKCC and their friends, each wearing a blue Polo cap carried buckets for their "Every Penny Counts" campaign. They collected a whopping $1,400 in "spare change" to rent tuxedos and dry clean dresses for the Pediatric Prom coming up in June at The Center.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering is the world's oldest and largest private institution dedicated to the prevention, detection, and control and cure of cancer. The Associates Committee was founded in 1984 as a part of The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The committee's purpose is to introduce a younger generation to the volunteer and philanthropic activities of The Society and to raise funds for the Center.

Three cheers for The Society's Olivia Striffler and her team who put it all again. Until next year, keep smiling!

Zabar's Stanley Zabar, Aquavit/Riingo's Marcus Samuelsson, C-CAP Presidnet and Founder Richard Grausman, Zagat Survey's Tim Zagat, NBC-TV Today Show's Al Roker, Gourmet Advisory Services Presidnet Harriette Rose Katz, Honoree Thomas Keller, Zagat Survey's Nina Zagat, Union Square Hospitality Group's Danny Meyer, and Bon Appetit's Editor in Chief Barbara Fairchild at the Careers through Culinary Arts Program's Spring Awards Dinner. Photo by Jerry Ruotolo courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

The 8th annual Careers through Culinary Arts Program's (C-CAP) A Preview of Spring Dining tasting event raised $590,000 for the charitable organization that provides food-service career opportunities for underserved youth. C-CAP manages the largest independent culinary scholarship program in the United States, awarding over $2,000,000 annually.

The event was held at PIER SIXTY at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Wednesday, March 1. Nearly 40 of New York City's top-rated restaurants presented savories and sweets from the Chefs' new spring menus to more than 700 guests. The dishes ranged from Kobe Beef Shortribs, Oyster Pearls, and Arctic Char Tataki to Raspberry-Lychee Parfait, Mango Tatin en "Gelee", and Valrhona Chocolate Bouchon. The Benefit featured celebrity chefs from restaurants including Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, BLT Prime, Daniel, Felidia, Le Bernardin, Nobu, Union Square Cafe, and wd-50.

Gourmet Advisory Services President Harriette Rose Katz and The Sea Grill's Ed Brown at the Careers through Culinary Arts Program's Spring Awards Dinner. Photo by Jerry Ruotolo courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

Harriette Rose Katz Events/Gourmet Advisory Services coordinated the event. Founder and President, Harriette Rose Katz, respected trendsetter and world-renowned event planner, served for 16 years as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, one of the world's most prestigious food and wine organizations. She has received their Gold Star of Excellence. In addition, she is a member of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, The Wine and Food Society of New York, and is a fellow of the Culinary Institute of America.

Al Roker of NBC's The Today Show was the Master of Ceremonies. New York City's favorite Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson of Aquavit and Riingo restaurants served as Chef Committee Chair. Mr. Kenneth Himmel, President and CEO of Related Urban Development chaired the event. Susan and Richard Grausman and Debi and Rick Smilow served as Vice Chairs.

Thomas Keller was honored for his creativity and standards for excellence and for sharing C-CAP's mission to nurture and train the next generation of culinary professionals. "I am a strong advocate for what the C-CAP program accomplishes, and feel quite honored to be recognized by this organization," said Thomas Keller. "It's so important that we as mentors support and nurture our young people that possess this talent for the culinary arts, as they will be the future of the culinary industry."

C-CAP President and Founder Richard Grausman, Per Se and The French Laundry's Thomas Keller receiving C-CAP Honors Award at the Careers through Culinary Arts Program's Spring Awards Dinner. Photo by Jerry Ruotolo courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

The evening's festivities also included a silent auction with over 30 items to bid on, including once-in-a-lifetime culinary and travel packages. Among the items included were A Day at The French Laundry or per se, The Today Show and Al Roker Too, and The Past and Present of Beijing. A live auction included bidding for the exclusive use of the BLANTYRE, New England's premiere Relais & Chateaux Resort, for two nights.

The event showcased the talent of two C-CAP Graduate Chefs--Amar Santana, Sous Chef at Aureole and Alfred Stephens, Corporate Pastry Chef at Olives. More than 50 New York City high school students and C-CAP Graduates assisted the chefs at the event. This year's platinum sponsors were The Grausman Family, Related Urban Development, and Zabar's & Co.

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), established in 1990 by Richard Grausman, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing inner-city high school students with training, scholarships, and jobs in the restaurant and food service industry. All proceeds from A Preview of Spring Dining tasting event and auctions support C-CAP's programs and services.

Dan, Cynthia and Aster Lufkin at Doubles. Photo by Cutty McGill courtesy of R. Couri Hay CPR.

In February, the Doubles club celebrated Valentine's Day complete with cupids, hearts and swathes of red, pink and white balloons. The fun started at about four o'clock in the afternoon with a Little People's Dance. There was disco music, "Miss Wendy's Dance Class," limbo rock, face painting, balloon headdresses, games, lovable stuffed animals, Chicken McDoubles and heart shaped cookies.

Among the over 200 guests dodging cupid's arrows or not were Cynthia and Dan Lufkin with their adorable daughter Aster Lee Moulton Lufkin, making her first public appearance on the occasion of her fourth-month birthday along with her eight-year-old sister Schulyer Hazard; Lily, Charlie and Eva Dillon; Tatiana, Isabella and Alexandra Mandis; Alexandra and Laura Slatkin; Alison Mazzola and her niece Christina Flynn; Jim, Luke, Jamie and Lauren Thierry Watkins; Harris and Blair Husain; Clo Cohen with her sister Caroline Toms and nieces Catherine, Clementine and Cosima; Alexander and Pamela Gross Finkelstein; Lally and Charles Dubow; Hercules, Peter and Marie-Regina Sotos; Alexandra and Lara Glazier; Naomi and Wendy Cebula; Camille, Alan and Barbara Glatt; Audrey and Antonio Maciele; Tami, Jack and Cameron Cargiulo; Jennifer and Nicholas Monaco and Susan Krysiewicz, Aubrienne and Thomas Bell.

President CYO Divisional Board Henry Humphreys, His Eminence, Edward Cardinal Egan, Gold Medal Award Winner Omnicom President and CEO John D. Wren, and Dinner Chairman Thomas J. Moran, President and CEO of Mutual of America at the 70th Annual CYO Club of Champions dinner. Photo courtesy of Rubenstein Communications.

On February 9th, the Catholic Youth Organization held its 70th Annual CYO Club of Champions dinner at the Waldorf=Astoria. President & CEO of the Omnicom Group John D. Wren, New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and New York Giants star Tiki Barber received awards from His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop of New York (Tiki accepted his in a pre-taped message.) The event also included a tribute to Wellington Mara, former co-owner of the NY Giants. The Catholic Youth Organization, agency of Catholic Charities, provides athletic, recreational, and cultural programs for youth and young adults of all religions throughout the Archdiocese of New York. CYO is one of the largest youth organizations in the Metro area helping more than 25,000 youngsters a year. The event was able to raise $675,000.

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With reporting from Katrina Lovett, Lauren Thayer, Linda Mansfield, and Marisa Wayne.