Social Safari
By R Couri Hay | Photo Contributions by Patrick McMullan
The original story appeared in the July 20th Issue of Social Life Magazine. Click here to view.
Dipping into The Parties
Beyonce, Seth Meyers, Madonna, Isabelle Adjani, Van Gogh, Tethys Art, Harring, Kusma , NY Botanical Garden, The Handmaid’s Tale
Elisabeth Moss and Joseph Fiennes star in The Handmaid’s Tale, the bingeable, dramatic series that just wrapped Season 4 on Hulu. The Emmy Award-winning show is based on Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name and depicts a totalitarian dystopia where women are considered property of the state. Moss, after receiving the Golden Globe for best actress in a TV series, quoted Atwood saying that “we were the people who were not in the papers. We lived in the blank white spaces at the edge of print. It gave us more freedom. We lived in the gaps between the stories.”
Call My Agent
French film icons including Isabelle Adjani, Monica Bellucci, Juliette Binoche, Isabelle Huppert 
and NY’s Sigourney Weaver all appear in Call My Agent, a saucy French comedy-drama that follows the fast-paced lives of agents at a Paris talent firm. The principles played by Thibault de Montalembert, Gregory Montel, Lilian Rover and Camille Cottin give us a behind the scenes peak into the industry. Cottin said, “we filmed with concealed cameras and people did not realize I was an actor, people thought I was this senseless bitch.” She adds “it was difficult to persuade French actors to appear as themselves. Self-parody is not something that sits naturally with us.” Call My Agent is available on Netflix with English subtitles.
Beyoncé & The Dog Store
Vera Wang, Diana Ross, Simon Cowell, and Beyoncé turn to Edward Alava’s “The Dog Store” in the Hamptons and NYC to pamper their beloved pooches. Alava also runs a mobile unit in the Hamptons, allowing him to do house-calls to groom and fluff your four-legged friend. “We come to your house and set up all our grooming and special services, like massage and acupuncture,” said Alava, who can even arrange a doggie birthday party, supervised play dates, and beach walks. The puppy master started The Dog Store 20 years ago, and today runs one of the most successful canine boutiques on the East Coast. Alava delivers the best concierge services in NY, including training for boat and jet travel, boarding, veterinarians and every other service you can imagine. 170 E 61st, NYC / (212)- 317- 5987 or (917)-535-0239
New York Botanical Garden
The ever-glamorous Gillian Hearst, Georgina Bloomberg, Ashley McDermott, Kate Davis, Lili Buffett, Sharon Jacob, Holly Lowen, Deborah Royce, and Janet Montag served as the co-chairs of this year’s New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), Gala. The Garden, founded in 1891, is one of America’s glittering crown jewels with 200 landscaped acres boasting 3,500 plant species and 50 acres of old-growth forest. The evening was a celebration of KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature, the highly acclaimed exhibition featuring inspirational installations by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama that is open through October 31st. After a year-long postponement, the benefit raised $1.3 million to support The NYBG and its education programs. Hearst was one of the nights generous sponsors. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame hosted the lively champagne hour, where guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres inspired by seasonal garden produce served alongside glasses of the 2012 Vintage. Nicky
Hilton Rothschild, Brooke Shields, Karlie Kloss, Alek Wek, Jean Shafiroff, Prabal Gurung, Cristina Cuomo, Nacho Figueras and Delfina Blaquier toasted the late Madame Clicquot, who was known as La Grande Dame de la Champagne. Kusama recently collaborated with the brand to design the new vintage bottles with her signature dots, bright colors, and artistic style—spreading a message of joy, hope, and optimism. After drinks, dinner was served in the Conservatory Tent followed by dancing to DJ Mei Kwok. In the mix were Cynthia Rowley, Nigel Barker, Benjamin Bronfman, Brian Atwood, Jake Deutsch, Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl. De Beers Jewellers created an interactive mirrored, floral photo moment and the nights Chairs all sparkled in the company’s divine diamonds. nybg.org
Immersive Van Gogh
Madonna and family were among the first to see Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at 300 Vesey St. Although nothing can replace seeing the artist’s Starry Night in person at MoMA, this show allows you to enter Van Gogh’s universe and watch his night sky roll over you on a 360 degree digital screen. After selling out in cities across the globe this show has returned to NYC. The exhibit reproduces Van Gogh’s work and aspects of his life by using the latest 4k resolution technology. Over 400 of Van Gogh’s sketches, drawings, and paintings are projected onto walls that span across a four-story high, 30,000 square-feet surface. The projections are set to an original musical score allowing the audience to be enveloped by the art and learn intimate details of his life. This show is especially interesting for children and those studying art. There is even a station for attendees to “make their own” Van Goghs. The show’s highlight is a short VR experience that allows attendees to experience a day in the life of Van Gogh, delving into the various inspirations behind his most celebrated paintings. The Dutch Post-Impressionist was born in 1853 and lived for a tumultuous 37 years, during which he chopped off his ear after a confrontation with fellow artist and former friend Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh created over 2,000 pieces, the most expensive of which is currently valued at $163.4 million. Van Gogh said, “I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” He adds that, “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” vangoghexpo.com
Tethy’s Art: Southampton
Keith Haring, Richard Prince and Fawn Rogers are among the artist’s that were shown at the opening of the chic new gallery Tethy’s Art at 71 Hill St in the village of Southampton. Owners Nitin Gambhir and Elena Ulansky are united in their passion of showing emerging artists and genre explorations with an emphasis on transformative art. In the mix at the opening were Libbie Mugrabi, Dr. Kenneth Mark, Jean Shairoff, Janna Bullock and Kevin Richards and artist Linjie Deng. The gallery is also showing work by Pieter Schoolwert, Pearlyn Lii, Petra Cortright, and Elise Swopes. The late Keith Haring said “the public has a right to art.” How Haring’s manifesto still relates to and perhaps exists in tension with the digital sphere is precisely the type of dialogue that Tethys Art seeks to provoke with their dynamic curated exhibitions, which will happen every 3 weeks. Tethys Art’s debut exhibition interrogates the coexistence and relationship between street art and digital art over time and features both modern and contemporary artwork. tethys.art
FUK: Fredrick Anderson
Charlize Theron, Janet Jackson, Patricia Clarkson and Ivana Trump are just a few of the VIPS that designer Frederick Anderson has dressed over the years. He launched his new Resort Collection, at the Creator House rooftop; among the 300 stylish guests were Meredith Marks, Lilliana Cavendish, Marcy Warren, Catherine Carey and Tyron Mayes. The designs are available at Saks, Barneys and fine department stores across the county. Anderson also previewed his first handbag collection called FUK, Friends You Keep, that comes out in the fall. He said, “I love women and design clothing to enhance individuality. I believe fashion is your conversation with the world.” frederickandersoncollection.com