Voices Against Brain Cancer's 8th Annual Benefit Concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom - June 6, 2013

Voices Against Brain Cancer held their 8th annual benefit concert, Sounding Off For A Cure at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6, 2013. Juliet Papa of 1010 Wins News Radio hosted this year's event, which included a live performance by The Wailers (the original band of Bob Marley) and Ky-Mani Marley, cocktails, silent auctions, and awards honoring actor Tony Danza and Dr. John Boockvar for their support on the fight against brain cancer.  

Many survivors of brain also attended the event to be honored with the 2013 Courage Award.  This year's festive concert was a great success in supporting Voices Against Brain Cancer's mission of raising awareness of this disease, helping patients and families affected by this disease through support groups, and promoting scientific research in finding a cure.  You can stay up to date through their newsletters or get involved by volunteering your time to this important cause.

Ky-Mani Marley with Koolant Brown and Mario Lichtenstein – co-founder of Voices Against Brain Cancer

Juliet Papa of 1010 Wins News Radio hosted this year's event

Ky-Mani Marley performing with The Wailers

The Wailers posing for a group photo

The Great Gatsby - Nassau County Museum of Art’s 2013 Museum Ball - June 8, 2013

The Nassau County Museum of Art held the Great Gatsby 2013 Museum Ball on Saturday, June 8 2013. The Museum Ball is the museum’s major annual fundraising affair, raising significant support for exhibitions and educational programming.

This event was certainly one of the best parties on Long Island since the days of Jay Gatsby himself! Guests got into the spirit of the fabled Jazz Age with flapper dresses, headbands, feathers, and mountains of sparkling jewelry. The lavish tented pavilions for the cocktail hour and dinner similarly evoked the extravagant décor of Long Island’s Gold Coast history.  

The 2013 Ball was chaired by Museum Board Member Angela Susan Anton, the publisher and owner of Anton CommunityPublications. The Journal Committee was chaired by M. Patricia Janco-Tupper, senior vice president, wealth advisor for Wells Fargo Bank; and Rebecca Creavin, senior vice president, private banker for Wells Fargo Bank. The museum offers its congratulations to the chairmen and committee members for this successful and beautiful event.

Members of the Ball Committee: Kimberly Bancroft, Irina Shushko, Connie Carr, Thalia Elie, Angela Susan Anton, Natalia Good, Esther Ambalu, Sara Ambalu, Gayle Finkelman-Cohen, Karen Loeffler. Eve Califano. (photo by Tab Hauser)

Nassau Community College ‘flappers’ welcome guests Jed Morey and Eden White. (photo by Scott Levy)

Rebecca Creavin and M. Patricia Janco-Tupper, co-chairs of the Ball’s Journal Committee; Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos; Museum Director Dr. Karl Willers, and Ball Chairman Angela Susan Anton show off a congratulatory proclamation from the county. (photo by Scott Levy).

Dr. Stephen and Board Secretary Sharon Cuchel with Barbara and Timothy Schmidt (photo by Scott Levy)

Museum supporters George Machin and Nancy DeMatteis with Arlene Levine and Board Vice President Arthur Levine. (photo by Scott Levy)

Ball Committee Member Cora Michalis, Museum Director Dr. Karl Willers, Museum Founding President Hon. Arnold A. Saltzman, Board Member Dr. Todd Cohen, and Joan Saltzman (photo by Scott Levy)

Alain Coumont's Cookbook Tour at Le Pain Quotidien - June 2013

Alain Coumont, founder of Le Pain Quotidien is on tour in the U.S this month (June 2013) with his second cookbook - aptly named Le Pain Quotidien Cookbook.  You can meet chef Coumont onsite at select Le Pain Quotidien stores across the U.S this month to purchase his book from him in person!  Being a fan of Le Pain Quotidien ever since we first encountered their beautiful rustic shop in West Hollywood five years ago, we couldn't help but approach Alain when we saw spotted him this afternoon at his NYC midtown store.

Alain Coumont posed for us at the first stop of his book signing in the midtown NYC.  He will also be traveling to other stores this month in Washington DC and Los Angeles.  The complete schedule can be found here.

Le Pain Quotidien Cookbook is a collection of over 100 recipes that incorporate the qualities of Le Pain Quotidien - dishes that are fresh, unprocessed, nutritious, and simple to make.  These recipes are great for those learning how to eat healthier without compromising on taste.  Alain assured us that his second book focuses on his new recipes, whereas his first book, Alain Coumont's Communal Table was an introductory story behind his eateries which included recipes of dishes of their menus that you can make at home.

If you can't make the book signing, Alain Coumont is also holding cooking classes in New York and California this month - learn how to make perfect bread and delicious tartines!  More details are available on their site here.

 The lemon tart that we got today at Le Pain Quotidien - so simple in appearance, yet unbelievably tasty!

Le Pain Quotidien Cookbook can be found in stores now

Alain Coumont's Communal Table - his first book, also available at all Le Pain Quotidien  shops  

The Juilliard Club's Spring Benefit - Boardwalk Juilliard - June 4, 2013

The Juilliard Club of the renowned Juillard School held their annual spring benefit - Boardwalk Juilliard at the the Glorya Kaufman Dance Studio on June 4, 2013.  The Boardwalk Juilliard this year was a Prohibition era inspired 1920's flapper party - held with live jazz music, artisanal cocktails sponsored by Belvedere Vodka, tasty light bites by Radish of Williamsburg Brooklyn, and great company with Juilliards young patrons. Proceeds from Boardwalk Juilliard benefits the Juilliard Scholarship fund, which provides all eligible applicants the opportunity to study at Juilliard with respect to all levels of financial need.  

Joining the Julliard Club is a great way for young urban professionals to support and enjoy the performing arts while meeting other young art patrons in NYC.  Perks of joining include invitations to social events (such as Boardwalk Juillard) and access to exclusive performances by Juilliard students - membership info can be found here.  We had a great time meeting everyone all the diverse interesting guests at Boardwalk Juilliard, we hope our pictures inspire you to join!

Guests arrive in festive cocktail attire.  Jonathan Slawson poses with Abbie Mohlin

Mixologists prepping for the party before the guests arrive

The dance studio was tranformed into a 1920's party with a nice warm purple glow

There were many chic retro flapper outfits spotted throughout the event!  Chihiro Shibayama poses to the right.

This was the first time we had cocktails made with Belvedere Vodka - it has a very nice smooth delicious finish!  Our favorite cocktail of the night was the Big Easy recipe shown here, made with Canton Ginger Liqueur from France.

The talented students of Juilliard performed throughout the night

Strawberry creme fraiche flatbread with balsamic reduction - catered by Radish, which you may know from their gourmet shop in Williamsburg Brooklyn (they are now a catering only shop)

The evening also included a raffle with goods donated by local NYC businesses, this raffle was for a sweets package with Magnolia Bakery, Madecasse Chocolate, and Wafels and Dinges

No Raffle at Juilliard can be complete without some item of artistic inspiration!

We like the retro Lomo look of this photograph

A live jazz band of Juillard students entertained guests with 1920's music (Luke Celenza on piano with a Jazz Studies Quintet).  The Glorya Kaufman dance studio has a fantastic view overlooking Lincoln Center.

Gillian Abbot (left) with Juilliard Director of Development Vanessa Wise (center)

 This event brought back many graduates of Julliard and Juilliard's Pre-College program

Guests having cocktails and small bites of fried mac n' cheese.

2013 English Ball at 583 Park Avenue - May 28, 2013

The St.George's Society of New York held their annual premier British social event at the beautiful space of 583 Park Avenue on May 28, 2013.  Founded by English colonialists in 1770, the St. Georges Society provides financial assistance to the needy of British and Commonwealth descent living in the NYC area through social programs such as scholarship for high achieving students at Lehman College, a CUNY school.  

This year's event honored Sir Winfried Bischoff, Chairman of LLoyds Banking Group and Simon Fuller, founder of American Idol.  Guests attended the English Ball in beautiful gowns and suits, some even wearing traditional British kilts and medals of honor!  British and non-British guests mingled to a night of cocktails, gourmet food, and dancing to finish off the night.  The scholarship auction this year was hosted by Sotheby's.  The English Ball has raised several million dollars in the past few years- serving it's original purpose offering "advice and relief" to British fellow countrymen in need.

Guests arrived traditional tartan British Kilts - Patrick and Kathleen Carr

John Miller, JoAnne Davidson, David and Barbara Price, June Felix and Peter M. Felix, CBE

Sir Win Bischoff, Lady Bischoff, Simon Fuller of American Idol, Natalie Fuller and JoAnne Davidson

The beautiful event space of 583 Park Ave - multicolored lights were used to give the space a warm violet glow

Cocktail hour was accompanied with classical live piano music

Chris Ford, Dr. Geneive Brown Metzger

The open bar served mimosas made with freshly squeezed orange juice - we love the old school touches!

Delicious tasty light bites served throughout the night, these are roasted red and yellow beets with microgreen herbs

Melissa M. Gibbs, Pattie Titley