The view from the perch

An abondoned glove. 1:20 PM. Photo: JH.

Thursday, January 30, 2014. Another very cold day, yesterday in New York with midnight temperatures in the low teens.

It was a bright and sunny frigid day; and it was Wednesday so it was Michael’s. I had been there the day before and while it was just about fully reserved, it was sedate. Yesterday it was back to its popular pandemonium. The roar of the crowd.

The other glove strewn nearby.

I was lunching with Ambassador John Loeb. Across the way from us Rikki Klieman (Mrs. Bill Bratton) was lunching with Norah O’Donnell. At the Table One in the bay, Bonnie Fuller and Gerry Byrne of Penske Media were holding one of their Wednesday lunches with cross-section of New York media including Christine Romans of CNN, Jill Zarin of “New York Housewives,” PR guru Maury Rogoff, Chris Ariens of Mediabistro, Michael’s Mayor and veteran media wiz, Joe Armstrong, Paul Sinclaire of Joe Fresh, Brian Balthazar of AOL, Samara Finn of Marina Mahar Commuications. Next door Real Estate Brokers to the billionaires Eva Mohr and Serena Boardman were lunching with a friend. Andrew Stein was lunching with James Tobak and Montel Williams.

At the corner table, Gayle King of CBS This Morning; next door, uber-literary agent Esther Newberg. Across from her: Da Boyze (minus one), Dr. Imber, Messrs Kramer, Greenfield and Bergman. Next door to me, Self magazine’s Lucy Danizer. Around the room: Andrew Ross Sorkin and guests; Joan Gelman with Joan Hamberg and Robert Zimmerman; next to them Judy Price of National Jewelry Institute and Barbara Cirkva; Gordon Davis and Diane Coffey; Estee Lauder’sAlexandra Trower; Dini von Mueffling; Adam Platzner of Cornelius Capital who went to school with John Loeb’s son Nicholas Loeb, creator and marketer of “Onion Crunch.”

A shout-out for DPC on Twitter.

Moving right along, Jerry Inzerillo, President and CEO of IMG Artists; Jack Kliger of TV Guide: Steven Greenberg of Allen & Co.; Tony Hoyt with Carolyn Davis; Shelly Palmer of Palmer Advance Media; actor Robert Wuhl with his brother Evan Wuhl; Armando Ruiz of Art Treats; Aryeh Boiurkoff of Lion Tree; real estate investment guru Jonathan Estreich; PR/marketing exec Lisa Linden with InterContinental Barclay’s Herve Houdre; architect/graphic designer Richard Wuman; United Talent’s Jay Sures; Shelley Zaris of IPSOS OTX; Jason Weisenfeld, business partner of Jacqui Lividini; Michael J. Wolf. And at the bar taking it all in and the comings and goings: Philippe and Paula Salomon who love that perch and can often be found there enjoying their lunch and the whole way of life a la Michaels’.

Georgette Farkas with JH's brother, Jason Hirsch, and Nancy Xu last night at Rotisserie Georgette, where they were celebrating Jason's birthday. According to JH, the Poulet Roti (rotisserie chicken) with herbes de Provence and garlic jus was absolutely mouthwatering, "including the white meat!"

They started with the Grilled Octopus Grenobloise ("Ratte" Potatoes, Tomato Confit, Lemon, Capers, Croutons) and the Salad Francine (named after Georgette's mother) of Arugula, Artichoke Heart, Wax Beans Carrot-Coriander Vinaigrette, Parmesan Chips. Oh, and the Rabbit Rillette with Crostini, too.

Accompanying the chicken were Romanesco Cauliflower, Black Trumpets and Raisins; and Stuffed & Crisped Baked Idaho filled with Parmesan Mashed Potatoes. If that wasn't enough (it was a birthday dinner after all), they also shared some Brown Butter ice cream and a Cookie Trio for dessert. If you can't tell, he'll be back ... and will be bringing me along.

This past Tuesday night, Delia von Neuschatz joined more than 200 others from the worlds of fashion, arts and the media at M Studio in the West Village “to celebrate the arrival of the month-long Faberge Big Egg Hunt” – the world’s largest which will begin on April 1st.

The event drew an “only in New York” cross-section of personalities — Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera; Mark Shand, the Englishman who is deeply committed to saving the elephants (see Mark Shand: An Elephant-Sized Life); Princess Eugenie, daughter of Sarah, the Duchess of York and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. Shand and Princess Eugenie are relatives (through marriage) as his sister Camilla is married to Beatrice’s uncle, Prince Charles. But you knew that already, right? I think Princess Eugenie has been spending some time in New York, and looks like it suits her well.

Serene sunset over the Hudson.

Here is Delia’s account for the NYSD:

More than 200 of the great and the good from the worlds of art, fashion and media gathered at M Studio in the West Village to celebrate an upcoming event the likes of which is sure to delight even the most jaded, the most blasé of New Yorkers.

HRH Princess Eugenie of York, Mark Shand, Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera, Agnes Gund, Naeem Khan, Eva Jeanbart Lorenzotti, Waris Ahluwalia, Andrew Saffir, David Benedict, Suydam Lansing, Sandra Nunnerley, Joan Rivers, Richard Story, Leo Villareal and Yvonne Force Villareal came together to celebrate the arrival of the month-long Fabergé Big Egg Hunt– the world’s largest egg hunt — which will take New York by storm beginning on April 1st.

Mark Shand and HRH Princess Eugenie of York.

Modeled after a record-setting 2012 London event, 250+ giant eggs, each designed by different artists, fashion designers and architects, will be dispersed throughout all five boroughs, the objects of a treasure hunt. Egg designers for the New York spectacle include Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger,Marchesa, Olivier Theyskens, Julian Schnabel, Tracey Emin, Bruce Weber, Peter Max, Terry Richardson, D*Face, Ronnie Wood, Peter Beard, and Zaha Hadid— to name just a few! As with the London endeavor, however, it isn’t only established creatives who are lending their talents, but also emerging and up-and-coming artists who have never been exhibited.

Carolina and Reinaldo Herrera.

Joan Rivers.

The Cocktail Countdown featured a sneak preview of several of the eggs that will be exhibited throughout the city and guests were also treated to a live art installation by participating artist Shantell Martin as well as to an immersive dance performance by Gallim Dance.

Artist Shantell Martin created her egg live throughout the evening.

Egg designed by artist Frank Hyder of the Rebecca Hossack gallery.

Several of the egg sculptures that will be on display.

The Gallim Dance company performed during the evening.

And as if the sheer pleasure of viewing these artworks isn’t enough, Fabergé is further incentivizing participation in the eggstravaganza by awarding gemstone prizes to the winners.

Nina Bogdan, Lauren Parry, and Carla Barrucci showcasing Fabergé jewelry.

A sample of participating artists and locations.

A map of egg locations in Manhattan.

The whole enterprise will culminate in a gala event at the end of April at which many of the highly collectible, one-of-a-kind eggs will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s. The proceeds of the Egg Hunt will benefit two non-profit organizations — Mark Shand’s Elephant Family which is racing against the clock to save the Asian elephant from extinction and Agnes Gund’s Studio in a School which brings the visual arts to hundreds of thousands of New York City children in under-served public schools and daycare centers.