Social Safari

By R. Couri Hay

Gala Season 

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, Peter Thomas Roth, Cornelia Guest, Peter Marino, Masaharu Morimoto, Andy Warhol, Bill Gates, Drew Barrymore, Robert Redford

Cornelia Guest & Peter Marino
Friends of the Domaine De Chantilly

Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron, Anya Taylor-Joy, Cornelia Guest, and architect Peter Marino were all front row at designer Jonathan Anderson’s first show for Dior in Paris. The night before, Marino, who oversaw a five-year renovation of the new Dior store on East 57th Street, was the Gala Chair of the 10th anniversary of the Friends of the Domaine De Chantilly, the historic chateau outside of Paris, originally built in 1358. Prince Amyn Aga Khan, the chairman of the organization that raises funds to restore the chateau, its gardens, and important works of art, greeted the guests. Other New Yorkers on hand were arts patrons Marina Kellen French, Barbara Tober, Tom Knapp, Eugenia Bullock, Curtis Clarizio, Jessica Nicholls, Isabelle Marino, and Cornelia Guest. fodchantilly.org

 

Robert Redford & Kimberly Paige Bluhm

Robert Redford’s co-stars are all mourning the loss of the Hollywood legend. Kimberly Paige Bluhm, who played the “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” star’s wife in “Spy Game,” the classic action thriller filmed in Budapest in 2001, which co-starred Brad Pitt, is among those who are fondly remembering him. “He was kind and generous to everyone on set. He was a real gentleman,” she said. Kimberly, now a philanthropist, has gone on to marry billionaire Neil Bluhm, who was just honored for his part in building the Bluhm Heart Hospital at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.  nm.org

 

Princess Yasmin Aga Khan & Peter Thomas Roth

Hollywood legend Rita Hayworth, whose co-stars included Cary Grant and Gene Kelly, suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s and died at 68 in 1987 due to complications associated with the disease. Her daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, took care of the star in NYC and, after her diagnosis, founded a gala in her honor that has raised over $90 million since its inception in 1984. The Princess said that this year’s 41st edition of the Alzheimer’s Association Imagine Benefit will honor her friend, skincare mogul Peter Thomas Roth, for “his commitment to the mission and his impact on raising awareness and funding for care and research.” She added, “Alzheimer’s remains a national crisis, affecting over 7 million Americans, including over 427,000 New Yorkers.” alz.org

 

Andy Warhol @ The Southampton Arts Center

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the Southampton Arts Center (SAC) opened an exhibition of Latin American works from the 1950s to the present called “Second Skin.” The show, curated by Estrellita Brodsky, runs through December 28th and features photography, sculpture, textiles, wearable objects, and archival material, including various prints from Martine Gutierrez’s acclaimed Indigenous Woman and a selection of Andy Warhol works on paper. “Second Skin expands the conversation around fashion by showing how garments operate in our daily lives—they protect us from the elements, they shape our identity, and represent a powerful cultural language,” said Christina Strassfield, the Executive Director & Chief Curator of SAC. southamptonartscenter.org

 Herb Karlitz’s Celebrity Chefs Extravaganza 

Marcus Samuelsson, Geoffrey Zakarian & Masaharu Morimoto

Ja Rule served as the referee for a putting contest between CC Sabathia and Justin Tuck. Neither of them sank the challenging 40-foot putt, but as both balls were equidistant from the hole, Ja Rule declared it a tie. Rao’s Chef Dino Gatto dished out the prize — two big bags of his famous meatballs. The Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf and Tennis Tournament was organized by event producer and chef guru Herb Karlitz. One hundred twenty top culinary and sports stars were on hand, including Marcus Samuelsson, Geoffrey Zakarian, “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto, MLB Hall of Famer CC Sabathia, two-time Super Bowl Champion Justin Tuck, and NY Knicks draft pick Jordan Clarkson. Key sponsors of the outing included Ernst & Young LLP (EY), Resy, Meat & Livestock Australia, Porsche Englewood, Acqua Panna®, S.Pellegrino®, Afficionado Coffee Roasters, Impossible Foods, The Long Drink, Real Del Valle, Resorts World, Schweid & Sons, Ten To One Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Good Charcoal, and Urbani Truffles. The event at the Montclair Country Club raised enough money for City Harvest to serve 1.5 million needy New Yorkers. karlitz.com

Utsav, Indian Restaurant in Times Square 

Drew Barrymore, Cynthia Nixon, Bernie Sanders, and a long list of Bollywood stars including Tamannaah Bhatia have all enjoyed the Indian cuisine at Utsav, the only restaurant in Manhattan serving authentic Bengali dishes. Restaurateur Nandita Khanna’s popular hot spot, located at 46th and 6th Ave, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The restaurant was the star attraction during the Times Square Durga Puja Festival, drawing lines of fans for their signature dishes, including Bhetki Fish Paturi and their Kolkata Fish Fry. utsavny.com

Andrea Stark

Tri-County Animal Rescue

Melinda and Bill Gates have awarded a college scholarship to 18-year-old designer Sir Darius Brown, the founder of Beaux and Paws. Brown’s charity creates bow ties for shelter animals to help them find forever homes. Darius, who is attending Morehouse College courtesy of the Gates Foundation, told me, “My goal is to have a TV show focused on shelter dogs and cats. I’m also working on a book of adoption stories. On the weekends, I make and donate Wag Bags with treats, toys, collars, and leashes.” Designer Andrea Stark brought Darius to the Tri-County Animal Rescue’s Peppermint Bark & Brunch at the Trump Golf Club in West Palm Beach, where he “dressed” all the adoptable dogs in his signature handmade ties. Earlier in the month, Stark talked up the brunch with Sharon Bush, Holiday House’s Iris Dankner, and Meera Gandhi at Christofle’s 57th St. boutique, where she had created a festive holiday tabletop using the company’s flatware collection, Carrousel, and Scalamandré’s iconic zebra print on the tablecloth. tricountyanimalrescue.com

 

Kravis Center by Interior Designer Gil Walsh

Steve Martin, Martin Short, David Foster, and Katharine McPhee have all performed at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The stars and the social set including Hilary and Wilbur Ross and  Audrey and Martin Gruss will now have three new Art Deco-inspired spaces to use, by top Palm Beach interior designer Gil Walsh. The first of the trio of glamorous rooms features green tones and cheetah prints and is being used for VIP receptions. The luxe and intimate space is open and will be tapped this fall during performances by Rick Springfield and comedian Tom Segura. The renovation of the main theater lobbies now boast moody plush red velvet seating and custom decorative light fixtures, adding drama to the elegant spaces. gwifl.com

 

Billy Ray Cyrus & Alexis Silva.

Miley Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who is dating actress Elizabeth Hurley, is making time to mentor singer-songwriter Alexis Silva. The 16-year-old, who survived a life-or-death cancer scare, performed her original songs about her dramatic experience and then distributed health kits, groceries, and served hot meals to the homeless alongside Pastor Michael Hall in San Bernardino, California. alexissilva.com

 

Only Make Believe

Matthew Broderick, Darren Criss, Josh Groban, and “Hamilton” star Christopher Jackson headlined the Only Make Believe annual gala on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre. The charity creates interactive theatre with children in hospitals and special education schools.  DJ Prince Hakim, the son of Robert “Kool” Bell of Kool and the Gang, manned the turntables  at the star-studded after-party. Hakim also played  his new  hit song “She Bad” that  was inspired by Janet Jackson. onlymakebelieve.org

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