The Merry Month of May

Late afternoon sunbathing in Riverside Park. 5:00 PM. Photo: Jeffrey Hirsch.

Wednesday, the Merry Month of May, 2013. It was a beautiful day in New York. The weatherman had said 63 and it was more like 70. The Sun was out and so were New Yorkers. Riding home from lunch traveling through the Park: there were bicycles, joggers, horse and carriage, the road was almost crowded.

I’d gone to Michael’s to lunch with Chris Meigher, the owner/publisher of Quest and two editors, Lily Hoagland and Daniel Capello. It was an editorial lunch meeting. Ralph Lauren happened by the table and stopped to greet Chris. I pointed out to him that the green tie Chris was wearing was similar to the first Ralph Lauren tie I ever bought, back in the 60s. Five dollars, a price rise compared to Brooks Brothers but worth it.

The entrance/exit of Central Park at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue and the statue of Samuel F. B. Morse.

The Ralph Lauren Collection flagship store in the old Rhinelander Waldo mansion on 72nd Street and Madison Avenue, 2:50 p.m.

That was Ralph Lauren’s initial foray into fashion. His price was a little above Brooks, which was a statement in itself. His quality was too, aided and abetted by his style. On my way home, passing the Ralph Lauren store in the old Rhinelander Waldo mansion on 72nd and Madison, I took a picture of the symbol of one man’s personal achievement in business in New York (and the the world).

Back at my apartment, on the terrace, the Sun was lighting up two of the trees in their day-glo green.

Twin late afternoon day-glo.

East End Avenue looking north of Gracie Square now almost in full flourish, 4:30 p.m.

There were many events going on in the City. At lunchtime, Public Prep held its Namesake luncheon at the Metropolitan Club where they honored Whoopi Goldberg. Down at La Grenouille, Francie Whittenburg hosted a birthday lunch for her friend Amy Fine Collins.

Last night The New York School of Interior Design honored Geoffrey Bradfield and Laurie Olin at its annual Spring Benefit dinner at the Asia Society. The Boys Club of New York honored Elaine Langone at its annual Awards Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street. Over at the Plaza, John Legend performed at the Turnaround Impact Awards Dinner honoring Goldman Sachs Gives (accepted by Lise and Michael Evans). Over at Carnegie Hall the Collegiate Chorale Spring Benefit “Song of Norway” with concert and seated dinner afterwards. A couple of blocks East, at the University Club, the Pratt Institute was hosting its Art of Packaging Award Gala to benefit Marc Rosen Scholarship and Education Fund.

And those were only the invitations I received. NO doubt there were dozens more.

Taniyah Chisolm, Mianelle Noel, Whoopi Goldberg, Jurnee Hernandez, Suleni Savil at the Third Annual Public Prep Namesake Luncheon.

It was a nice night to be out in New York. I went over to the American Museum of Natural History for the 2013 PEN Literary Gala. If you’re a regular reader, you’ve been there with me many times before. It is one of those “special” evenings in New York despite all the earmarks of a uniform “gala” fundraiser. It’s because it is a writer’s organization. In there, one can imagine, lies a kernel of truth; maybe more than one.
This year was their biggest fundraising. A little more than $1 million. Also Philip Roth was honored and awarded with the 2013 PEN /Allen Foundation Literary Service Award. This award was created by Annette Tapert Allen and Joe Allen. Annette was also co-chair of this year’s gala along with Joanna Coles, Elizabeth Leeds, Carol Mack, Anne Hearst McInerney, Jay McInerney, and John Troubh.

Honorary Chairs were Toni Goodale and Tina Brown. They filled the room. Willie Geist co-host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe and of NBC’s Today.

The American Museum of Natural History at last night's cocktail reception before the PEN Literary Gala honoring Philip Roth.

There were authors hosting many tables including David Henry Hwang, Ron Chernow, Billy Collins, James Goodale, Adam Gopnik, Molly Haskell, Rick Hertzberg, Walter Mosley, Susan Orlean, Francine Prose, David Remnick, Martin Amis, Ken Auletta, K. Anthony Appiah, Colm Toibin, Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith, Judith Thurman, Jeffrey Toobin, Edmund White, and many others, as well as a large group of “Trustee Hosts.”

The mission of PEN is to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. It is a professional organization of poets, playwrights, essayists, editors, novelists, screenwriters, and translators, who have pledged themselves to “do their utmost to dispel race, class, and national hatred and to champion the ideal of one humanity living in peace in the world.” That is an excerpt from its charter.

Guests making their way to the Milstein Hall for the dinner.

Louise Grunwald and Annette Tapert.

Entering Milstein Hall for the dinner.

This year the Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award was presented to Ayse Berktay of Turkey. Ms. Berktay could not be there because she is in jail. She is a translator and writer by profession but a year and a half ago her home was raided at 5 am and personal papers were seized. She was later charged under Turkey’s anti-terror legislation of “membership in an illegal organization,” accusing her of “planning to stage demonstrations aimed at destabilizing the state, plotting to encourage women to throw themselves under police vehicles so as to create a furor..” To create a furor? That’s what it says. Isn’t there an element of comedy in that prose? Or the sublime to ridiculous irony? Sure seems that way.

Comedy only if you’re a million miles away from that process. Ms. Berktay is in jail, charged with creating a furor. She faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. Of creating a furor.

The honoree in a video interview.

Philip Roth speaking to the guests from the podium.

Barbara Goldsmith making the presentation of the 2013 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.

Accepting the aware in the stead of Ayse Berktay who is imprisoned awaiting trial in Turkey.

Freedom to write. It’s all very ironic when you consider that the late Edward Bernays, the daddy of the Art of Public Relations (and manipulating public opinion), considered a genius of a kind, and definitely a profoundly influential man with words, wrote the books the Goebbels admired and considered his bible in running Nazi Germany and all its vile aberrant distortions of human behavior. Nobody ever arrested Bernays and threw him into jail, nor should they have; and his work actually had a profound influence on a monster. Mr. Bernays also promoted the electrifying of the nation from the age of the kerosene lamp. General Electric was his client. His promotion was profoundly and happily effective, as we all know.

Mr. Roth who is said to have retired from writing, gave a short speech about the Freedom to Write and helping one’s fellow man. Suzanne Nassel, the Executive Director of PEN spoke of her intention to make PEN more active in helping its cause.
I was a guest of the Goodales. Their groups are always fun. Conversation is everywhere and so is laughter nearby. I was seated next to the beautiful Patricia Duff and my hostess, Mrs. Goodale and one over from her was the vivacious Felicia Taylor. It was a beautiful evening in New York.

Jackie Weld Drake and Wendy Gimbel.

Billy Rayner and Paul Wilmot.

Priscilla Whittle on greeting ...

Gayfryd Steinberg takes her seat next to Joe Allen.

Barbara Goldsmith and Susan Calhoun Moss.

Lisa Fine and Liz Peek.

Michael Hainey, author of the new bestselling novel, "After Visiting Friends."

Alina Cho with Laura and Harry Slatkin.

Carol Mack and Liz Peek.

Felicia Taylor.

David Henry Hwang and Kathy Rayner.

Philip Roth.

Amy Fine Collins

Patricia Duff with our hostess Toni Goodale.

Patricia Duff and Warren Hoge.

This was an amazing evening in New York this past Monday night. The New York Pops 30th Birthday Gala at Carnegie Hall “In Concert: Celebrating Collaborations of the Past, Present and Future.” They honored Frank Loesser, Jule Styne and Danny Kaye. Paula Zahn, host of NYC Arts on PBS hosted the evening.

Guest artists were Nick Adams, Laura Benanti, Stephanie J. Block, Liz Callaway, Will Chase, Megan Hilty, Marilyn Maye, Rob McClure, Donna Murphy Kelli O’Hara, Laura Osnes, Leslie Uggams, Max von Essen, Anthony Warlow and Betsy Wolfe. They were joined by the Ronald McDonald House’s Rockin’ House Band and Chorus, Camp Broadway Kids, and the New York Pops Salute to Music Students.