JoomGallery is not installed.

I’m not really a hat guy (i.e. a guy who wears a hat) but I know plenty of women who love donning a pretty brimmed chapeau for a charity luncheon: Joan Hope MacNaughton, Angela Susan Anton, Corrine Paston, Cynthia Neiditch, Sharon Cuchel, Stacey Novick, Karen Bonheim, Deirdre Siegel, Michelle Marie Zere, Arlene Levine, Nan Gerson, Dr. Ruth Waldbaum, Doreen Banks and Carol Large all wore plumes, silk bows and a little bling here and there! These aforementioned women, and more, attended the 3rd Annual Hat & Author Luncheon to benefit the Kidney & Urology Foundation and the Rose Garden Tea benefiting Old Westbury Gardens.

The special treat at the K & U party was celebrated authors Susan Isaacs and Bill Evans (ABC TV’s morning news weatherman, but you know that) who entertained everyone with insight to their craft and readings from their latest works of fiction and the special treat at OWG was, of course, dining in the magnificent walled Rose Garden, which is spectacular and breathtaking. Adding some testosterone to these fine afternoons were Dr. Stephen Cuchel, NCMA’s Executive Director Karl Willers, Ray Sikorski from Originpress, Richard Fromewick (who always wins the most interesting hat on a guy award!), Joseph Benty and a few more baseball caps and Stetsons capping it off!

Over at the Americana Manhasset at the opening bash for the new Ermenegildo Zegna Boutique (pronounced, air-men-eh-jill-doe zen-ya – the “g” is silent … figured you’d want help with that!), over 150 of the smart and fashionable set clinked glasses of Prosecco to benefit the Children’s Medical Fund of NY. Anna Zegna was slated to attend but got stuck in Milan due to that Icelandic volcanic ash cloud. However, CEO Robert Ackerman was there and spoke after Deirdre Costa Major from Americana, welcoming everyone to the event. David Blumenfeld snapped up the many Italian-esque hors d’oeuvres being butlered around by the plethora of Robbins Wolfe waiters amid the fine, fine men’s apparel.

I love a good wine tasting dinner (I seem to get invited to lots of them!) so the one at Lola’s Kitchen in Long Beach was especially memorable as it also doubled as a benefit. The terrific dinner was paired with wines from Paumanok Vineyards, donated by Pop’s Wine and Spirits, all to raise funds for the Long Island Crisis Center (where “It’s ok to ask for help”), the 40 years-strong organization that provides free, anonymous, 24/7 help and intervention counseling for countless Long Islanders in need. I had the pleasure of dining with Dorothy Jacobs, Anthony Fiamma, BJ Sklar (who’s the new chief concierge at the Allegria Hotel on the beach there), Doris Gralitzer – aka “Doris the Florist,” Debbe and Nela Monteko, Nassau County legislators Dave Denenberg and Denise Ford, Executive Director Linda Leonard and Ursula and Charles Massoud (the proprietors of the fine wines we enjoyed) and about 60 others! The menu featured several passed hors d’oeuvres of which my favorite was the Yellowfin Tuna Tartare served in a martini glass, paired with their light and very tasty ’09 Dry Rosé. Dinner was a hit with Macadamia Nut Crusted Diver Scallops paired with an ’09 Chenin Blanc, then Strigoli pasta with Lobster and Shiitake Mushrooms paired with an ’07 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, then Seared Duck Breast with Grilled Asparagus and their ’06 Merlot, and finally Semi-Dry Riesling-infused Sabayon with Mixed Berries paired with the very wine used in the preparation, the ’08 Semi-Dry Riesling. It was a great night, both sustainable and charitable … local restaurant, local wines and a local charity – it doesn’t get any better than that!

NCMA, otherwise known as the Nassau County Museum of Art, held its annual dinner dance gala this past June – an event I have enthusiastically attended and chronicled for many years! In the past, the gala has been on the museum grounds in a grandly decorated and air-conditioned tent, but this year, the very smart philanthropists at NCMA realized that with charitable funds dwindling they’d better think outside the box to try and save money and so they moved the event to Oheka Castle! For those of you who have been to that soaring edifice in Cold Spring Harbor, up on the hill overlooking Long Island Sound (so far in the distance), you know what a fabulous backdrop it is for a grand celebration! From the caviar and numerous hors d’oeuvres to the fine dinner in the majestic ballroom, the event was one to remember. Taking the microphone after the beautiful Laura Savini finished with the evening’s program (she was the very watchable emcee!), I presided over the auction, helping to raise over $390,000 (quite a feat in early 2010 for a benefit, I must say). Dancing the night away to the big band sounds were Rita and Frank Castagna, Board President Peter Tillis with his lovely wife Dori, Arlene and Arthur Levine, County Executive Edward Mangano, co-chairs Corky Paston and Angela Susan Anton, Jill Citron, Irene and Ron Rizzo (jeweler to the stars, but you know that), Deirdre Costa Major, Deutsche Bank’s Patricia Janco-Tupper and US Trust’s Jeffrey Tupper, Nancy DeMatteis, Brigitte and David Stetson, Pam Arnowitz, Steve and Rebecca Hollander, Kandice and Craig Seitz, Margaret and Tom Stacey, Susan and Clark Schubach, Sharon and Dr. Stephen Cuchel with their whole family in tow, who twirled the light fantastic all night, Jill and Dr. Todd Cohen, Karen and Dr. Paul Bonheim, Cora and Clarence Michalis, Tracey and Jonathan Serko, Dr. Harvey Manes, and corporate committee co-chairs Joe Canevari and Ron Gray. Whew … what a night to remember!

And finally over at the Martinis & Mischief Gala at The Boathouse in Central Park to benefit the Skin Cancer Foundation, the poker chips were flying! A sellout crowd of over 500 guests flocked to bid on silent auction prizes, drink martinis (hello?!) and create all kinds of mischief, all the while raising big bucks for this fine institution! Of the notables flashing cash were Tim Morehouse (the Olympian fencing champ), designer Richie Rich, TV journalist Lynne White, Nole Marin – one of the judges on America’s Next Top Model – Bravo’s Double Exposure’s Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri and GK Reid, along with Elizabeth Robins, Scott Neher, Dr. Andrew Jacono (the plastic surgeon extraordinaire) with Jesse Wasmuth, Lisa Berlow, Laine and Michael Contillo, Jeffrey Jurick, Katherine Pellerito (she’s the A-list psychotherapist), Dr. Perry Robins, Anne Marie Moriarty, Jaime Nortman, Jodie Kovien and all sorts of fashionably clad models and New Yorkers too chic to mention.

And lastly, in NYC at the Discovery Times Square Exposition, the King Tut, Return of the King exhibit is a sell-out day after day.  The opening bash attracted both locals from Long Island, tuxedo clad New Yorkers and even the Ambassador of Egypt...don’t miss the show, it’s in town until January 2, 2011.

If you have an event or celebration you think noteworthy, kindly email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . See you in boldface and always loving the camera!