Society Scene

« May 2007 | Main | July 2007 »

June 17, 2007

Rose of Hope Luncheon 2007

I was at the Cape last week (the week of June 11, 2007), so I didn't get the chance to update the blog, at least until now.

While I was enjoying the week of unrelenting 35 mph wind out of the north, the Rose of Hope Luncheon took place at the Greenfield Hill home of Tom and Patti Keegan, not far from the Fairfield Country Day School. The event was a benefit for the Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center in Fairfield.

Here are some photos of the event, which were shot by our staff shooter, B.K. Angeletti:

Yep, that's Mariska Hargitay, star of "Law & Order: SVU", chatting with the always charming Beth Davis of Fairfield. (This photo was also on Saturday's page one, 6/16/07.) One wag told me that M.H. was a little upset that the official pre-event press release had her as a victim of Crohn's disease -- a genetic disease of the intestinal tract that can be very difficult to treat -- and that she was going to pull out of the engagement. (I believe her official biography on NBC's L&O SVU Web site had her as having that problem, but that infomation has since been removed. At any rate, most of her on-line bios have her as having Crohn's.) So, for the record, she doesn't have Crohn's disease. And don't ask her about it either, or she'll make Harvey Keitel look like Shirley Temple. Now, if she were only a little more willing to talk to the local media, this mess could have been avoided.

Mariska with two fans, Carolyn Scifo and Dori Manner. This was taken at the pre-lunch reception on the Keegan patio. The lunch itself took place under a much larger tent.

Here we have, from left, Debbie Perkins, Gabriella Mays and Wendy Cook.

Here's Mariska with Donna Twist, left, and Dorothy Edgerton.

Here's M.H. with, from left, Lauren and Connie DeMattia, and Yolanda Landy.

Also speaking at the luncheon was Dr. Deborah Morosini, sister of the late Dana Reeve, who was the keynoter at the 2005 ROH event.

Finally, we have the three chairwomen: Donna Twist, Donna Craft and Lynn Taikowski.

Posted by john on 9:45 PM | Comments (6626)

June 5, 2007

Philip Johnson Glass House

If there was one house that I always wanted to call home, it's this one:

For those of you who were still in diapers when Nixon was president, you're looking at a picture of the Philip Johnson Glass House in New Canaan, an archetictural icon since the day it was completed in 1949.

It was the home of Philip C. Johnson (1906-2005), the wealthy architect who designed the Lipstick Building in Manhattan and the Kline Biology Building at Yale, along with a host of other landmarks. It's on a 47-acre estate, so drapes aren't really needed. Although, I might add, it's not exactly the right place for people with privacy hangups.

Now, it belongs to the National Trust for Historic Preservation . It's also open to the public, but you might have to wait until 2008, as the tours for this year are nearly sold out.

There's a fund-rasing gala for the attraction on June 23, 2007. Tickets are $500, $1,000 and $5,000, but I'm told that the $500 tickets are sold out. (The $5,000 tickets are for two, if that helps.)

Posted by john on 9:48 PM | Comments (0)

June 1, 2007

Discovery in the Garden 2007: The Post-Tour Party

The Discovery in the Garden event -- a tour of five sylvan backyards in Southport and Westport to benefit the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, was a huge success this year, with lots of people taking part in the $45 tour.

How many people I do not know. But I'll find out.

After the tour, the tired souls retreated to Susan Fawcett Sosin's cottage on Sasco Hill Road for an elegant, albeit damp, cocktail party. In fact, it was kind of a Sasco Hill Road block party, because most of the neighbors were there. Here are some photos:

Discovery Board Chairman Philip Rubin, hostess Susan Fawcett Sosin, and Martha and Dwight Gesswein. The garden tour event was Martha's brainchild, and it's been a big success from year one. She was the honorary chairwoman this time around.

Here are Mar Jennings, Lori Dodd (no relation to the senator) and Donna Craft.

Julie Low, one of the co-chairwomen, and artist Wendy Everett Cooke.

Here's David Friedline, his wife, Catherine, on the right, and Susie Burian. center.

Susan Kane, the caterer; Jennifer and Ralf Shockey, and Julie Low. Sue did a great job; the hors d'oeuvres were difficult to refuse.

Becky Jensen and Charlotte Bartol. Becky and Charlotte were behind another recent tour event earlier this spring that was a benefit for Near & Far Aid Assoc. They were good sports to turn out to this one, too, no?