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September 29, 2007
Party opens The Chimneys Designer Show House
About 200 people were at The Chimneys mansion last night (Sept. 29, 2007) to attend the opening gala for the the Autumn at the Chimneys Designer Showhouse, a fundraiser for UNESCO, Green Demolitions, Dress for Success and Music and Arts for Humanity.
The Chimneys is Black Rock's -- and Bridgeport's -- most elegant surviving manson, and it's been decked out by a crew of about 50 or so interior decorators, artists, architects and other creative types. If they were after returning the home to its glory days, they've succeeded.
The home was built in the 1920s; there are 22 rooms, mostly on two stories. It has a well-thought-out floor plan, too -- you never feel like like you're lost, despite the 15,000 square feet of interior space. There's also a pool (built in the 1980s, but looking like a period piece), a tennis court, a fountain, a reflecting pool, a six-car garage and 10 chimneys.
It cost $400,000 to build -- in 1920 dollars. Alan Greenspan hasn't called me back yet, but I'd guess that works out to about $50 million in today's dollars (that's before the dollar's recent trip off the old cliff over the last couple weeks).
A production of the flamboyant Franco Grimaldi and his Franco Grimaldi Talent Resource Centre, the Show House will be on display until Oct. 28. Hours are Tuesday to Sunday 11 to 5, and it's open until 8 on Thursday. So head over to Black Rock and check it out. It's located on 124 Old Battery Road. Tickets are $30, and there will be a designer lecture at noon everyday.
Here are some pictures from the party; it took place in the garage -- not because there's no room in the house (there's plenty of that) but because Franco didn't want any Cabernet stains on the carpets.
Valeria Carrano, one of Franco's production people, with Franco the Great
Shelly McCormick, Helen White, Gaelle Parks (of Milford Stone) and Westport designer Lynne Scalo
Nancy Honeyman of Bethel, Beth Laffey, Christina Karaszewski and Gabrielle Aronas, all of Manhattan.
Sandy Zemola and Sharon Lynn, both of Fairfield.
Michelle Martin of Greenwich, with her husband, James; Sheila Foster, the honorary chairwoman, also of Greenwich, Jennifer Owen of Stratford and Molly Poyntz-Massiah of Bridgeport.
Linda Reid of New Canaan, with Caren and Eric Higgins.
Mary Ann Harding and Ashly Abate, both from Dress for Success.
Scott McGill, Westport; Miraneh and Kanran Hashemi of Wilton, the master bedroom desigenr Connie Cooper of Westport; and Wendy Hollender of Manhattan.
Ed Townsend of Ridgefield, Shelley Denning of Stamford and Dianne Jacobsen of Black Rock.
Finally, a couple media types -- Jason Casso of CNN and Debra Alfarone of Cable NewsChannel 12.
Here's the dining room. Dinner will be at 7:30:
A kitchen scene. My friend Doug Fedorko installed the major appliances.
The entertainment:
Posted by john on 9:39 PM | Comments (0)
September 16, 2007
Polo season closes in Greenwich
Maybe it was because the weather was perfect for polo. Maybe it was because the Giants stink this year. Whatever the reason, the largest crowd I've ever seen at the Greenwich Polo Club turned out today (Sept. 16, 2007) for the club's exciting season finale.
Some of the best players in the game were there, including superstar Mariano Aguerre, the 10-goal master of the polo universe. (A 10-goal handicap means that in a typical match, he'll score 10 goals.)
This was one of those rare 20-goal matches, meaning that if things worked out the way that they were supposed to, the final score would add up to at least 20. It did.
Mariano, with GPC's home White Birch team, was there to play against the Heathcote team, led by another master of the grassy field, Magoo LaPrida , a seven-goal handicap player.
White Birch won the hard-fought match 12-9.
Here are some pictures from the afternoon:
The Sacred Heart University's Equestrian Team turned out -- maybe to get some pointers? From left are Kristen Trimboli, Shelton; Sarah Buttelman, L.I.N.Y.; Casey Marino, Andover, Mass.; Melissa McQuade, Lindenhurst, N.Y.; Kelly Daley, Stamford; and Jessica Caruso, Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.
The Veuve Clicquot trophy table.
A number of spectators came with pretty elaborate spreads. This delicious table was set up by polo fans Paul Hansen and Martha Heinze of Westhampton Beach, L.I. (That's Martha with the brown leather jacket; she's with her friend Monique Schulman of Bedford, N.Y.)
Fans wait for gametime.
John Cole, perhaps the best polo announcer on the planet.
The snack bar behind the grandstand.
For this match, the GPC sprung for the luxury loos. This one had marble countertops.
Anyone for a souvenir?
Bombadier was one for the event sponsors, who treated everyone to a flyover.
First chukker action.
The Greenwich Polo Club has two polo fields end-to-end, creating a grassy expanse about as large -- no exaggeration -- as 16 or so football fields.
Stomping the divots after the third chukker.
Posted by john on 7:47 PM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2007
Breast cancer meets its match
I swung by the Brooklawn C.C. on Friday (Sept. 14, 2007) for the annual Rose of Hope Tennis Tournament.
The event, organized by Donna Craft, Beth Davis, and a few of their friends, was attended by -- I'm guessing here -- about 40 or so women. The proceeds were donated to the Norma Pfriem Breast Care Center in Fairfield, a subsidiary of Bridgeport Hospital.
The women were forced to play tennis because -- can you believe it? -- Brooklawn doesn't have a single badminton court! But I digress. Most of the ladies were, appropriately enough, wearing pink. (Good thing they weren't playing at the Patterson Club, or they would have been sent home for not wearing white.) Even the balls were pink.
Here's why planning a party can drive you nuts. The details can be 99 percent perfect, but if there's always that one little percent that goes wrong. This time, there seemed to be no plates (there was also a luncheon). Someone at the club managed to scrounge up some styrofoam plates from the Dollar Store, which is what they might have wound up using. They wouldn't have gone well with the crystal, sterling and cloth napkins, though, but any port in a storm. I didn't hang around to see how that situation sorted itself out.
This is why I always carry a spare set of china in the trunk of the car.
The China Syndrome notwithstanding, it was a great party. Remember -- it's always a good idea to give your guests something to do, besides just standing around drinking and eating.
Here are some photos from the event:
Beth Davis, Donna Twist and Donna Craft
Fiona Andren, Karin Keith and Stephanie Kelly
Cathy Cannella, Andy Gleeman (Beth's Husband) and Gail Keegan
The tennis patio. The luncheon actually took place inside the tennis clubhouse. That's Donna Twist with the clipboard, keeping track of things.
Posted by john on 6:59 PM | Comments (0)
September 6, 2007
The Dwindling Parties
Some of the annual fundraisers we have come to know and love are disappearing.
The One Hundred Committee Tea -- Down the drain!
Broadway on Beachside -- Washed up!
The Sail-A-Bration -- Sunk!
Ok, you might have forgotten about these parties, so here's a review.
The One Hundred Committee Tea was a fundraiser for the Center for Women and Families, the former Bridgeport YWCA. As you might have gathered, it was a tea party for women at a private home, although men were invited in the last two or three years. And -- no surprise -- they didn't only serve tea. Hey, that's one thing they got right!
Broadway on Beachside took place in Westport in a private home on the shore. (For its final year, the venue was switched to the Inn at Longshore for reasons that are unknown to me.) It was a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and included entertainment by Broadway stars. One wag told me that the event suffered from one speech after another. Now, if there's one thing that'll throw a wet towel on the fun, it's a speech.
The Sail-A-Bration was a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. It took place on one of the Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferries, which patrolled Long Island Sound while the Habitat supporters partied on. Sounds like fun, no? Well...the Port Jeff ferry isn't really set up to be a party boat, with its seating arrangement that's designed for strangers who want to stay that way.
In defense of all of these events, they did raise a lot of money for their causes. They were, for the most part, fun to attend. And the volunteers who worked on them deserve our gratitude.
I can tell you from personal experience that staging a fundraiser is no picnic.
One source told me that the real reason they're not with us anymore is because there's no one willing to step forward and stage one of these complex affairs. No surprise there. Those of you who show up to these things, write a check for $200 (or whatever) for a ticket and stay for a couple drinks and some hors d'oeuvres have no idea what goes into them.
There's a million little details to deal with, and any one of them can send you to the rubber room.
Here's a few you might not have considered:
1. The tent. If it's outdoors, you'll need one. But will it be big enough? Should you spring for the options, like a floor? Heat? Fans?
2. Decorations: This has to tie in with a theme, and let me tell you, on the night the volunteers uh... "agree" on a theme, it's best to hide the sharp objects.
3. The wine list. Man, here's another one. There's always a numbskull wine snob or two out there who spews out something like "Anything but Chardonnay!" So, more often than not, the committee winds up spending more than they should on vino. My advice? Hire a professional bartender and let him or her pick out the booze. And have a bottle or two of Chardonnay.
4. The invitations. These have to tie in with the theme, not have any spelling or grammar errors, have the right day and date, look nice, and they must get in the mail at least four weeks prior. Here's a common mistake: They'll say "Sunday, August 4", when Aug. 4 is a Saturday.
5. Food. You could write a book on party food. A lot of people have. Just don't forget the coffee, or you'll have a riot on your hands.
6. Music. A live band is nice, but which one?
7. Parking. I remember one party in which someone knocked over the car key board. Good thing I didn't take advantage of the valet parking that night. (I really don't like other people driving my car, because it has a manual gearbox.)
8. The date: Pick a date -- any date -- and someone on the committee or the Board of Directors will say "That's a bad night for me!" To them, I say, "Well, then, I guess you won't be able to make it."
9. Garbage management. Parties generate lots of trash. You'll have to have someone with his eye on the solid waste buildup during the event, or it'll look, well, trashy.
10. Fire safety. Don't pack too many people in the aforementioned tent, or the fire marshal might decide to stop by and send everyone home. And seriously, a few fire extinguishers might be a good idea, particularly if there's a roaring barbecue pit.
11. Liquor permit. Yep, you'll need one. Apply at least a month ahead of time.
12. The empties. Decide ahead of time what to do with the beer bottles, wine bottles, etc.
13. Flashlight. Handy if the power goes out.
14. Security. Something to keep in mind if some of the auction items include things that sparkle. You don't want to face the scandal when the $25,000 Tiffany necklace walks out the door. As an aside, I'm not a big fan of jewelry auction items. They're usually sold "on consignment," meaning that if it turns up missing, you're on the hook for the cost of the item. It also means the profit margain is too slim to make them worthwhile.
I could go on. I hope this won't discourage you from volunteering for the next non-profit fundraiser, but I suspect it will.
Posted by john on 9:41 PM | Comments (0)
