Parties & Openings
New Marlborough - May 21 The Old Inn hosts a dinner benefit for VIM. |
Pawling - May 19 Raw Art at Gallery on the Green. |
Sharon - May 19 The 12th annual Trade Secrets at Lion Rock Farm. |
6th Annual VIM Dinner at The Old Inn
Fiona Breslin reports from New Marlborough.
VIM Berkshires held its 6th annual benefit dinner on Monday, May 21 at The Old Inn on the Green. The dinner raised funds for the local branch of Volunteers in Medicine, an organization of physicians, nurses, dentists, therapists, nutrition counselors, and other health-care professionals who volunteer their time and skills to provide free services to the uninsured. About 70 supporters (including Susan Peisner and Phyllis Biener at left) filled the Old Inn, attracted no doubt by good intentions, as well as the allure of an exceptional dinner prepared by six of the region’s top chefs. In addition to Peter Platt and Shirl Gard—cooking on their home turf—and Gustavo Perez from the Inn’s sister establishment, The Southfield Store, participating chefs included Dan Smith from John Andrews, Shelly Williams from Haven Café & Bakery and Adam Zieminski from Café Adam. After mingling over Prosecco and hors’ d’oeuvres, guests took their places in the candlelit dining rooms to enjoy a multi-course meal that pleased the palate and warmed the heart with the knowledge that the dinner had raised nearly $18,000 for VIM.
Event chair Vicki Bonnington with committee member Catherine Mandel and VIM board member Marion Simon; Robert Caine and Susan Caine with Matt Mandel, volunteer physician and vice chairman of the board of VIM Berkshires.
VIM board member Richard Lindner, committee volunteer Laurie Lindner, Joanne Keator, and David Keator; comittee volunteers John & Tricia Bevan.
VIM underwriter Robert Baum with Dr. Herbert Rod; VIM underwriter Elaine Baum, Olga Weiss, Paula Rod, and underwriter Jesse Goodman.
VIM volunteers Dr. Nina Molin and Dr. Carol Reife; VIM underwriters Susan Peisner and board chair Arthur Peisner.
Executive vice president at Fairview Hospital Tony Rinaldi and VIM board member Dr. Ross Reife; Laurie Lindner, Matt Mandel, and Tracy Foster.
Cheryl and Michael Zaccaro; supporters Alan Salaman and Martin Biener.
VIM underwriters Rhee Kasky, William Cohn and, Lauren Spitz; VIM supporters Don Shapiro and Lee Blatt.
VIM board members Robin McGraw and Marion Simon; VIM underwriter Hildi Black with sculptor Jonathan Prince, VIM board member Bridget Ford Hughes, and VIM underwriter Walter Black.
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Posted by Fiona Breslin on 05/21/12 at 08:30 PM • Permalink
Trade Secrets: A Beautiful & Bountiful Benefit
Dan Shaw reports from Sharon.
Trade Secrets is like a big family reunion where everyone catches up with familiar faces they haven’t seen for ages—or at least since the last Trade Secrets. Hundreds came out to shop on May 19 at the 12th annual antique and rare-plant shopping extravaganza at Elaine La Roche’s Lion Rock Farm in Sharon, CT, which is the most important fundraiser of the year for Women’s Support Services, an organization that focuses on domestic violence intervention and prevention in northwest Connecticut and adjacent towns in New York and Massachusetts. It was family day for Hammertown’s Joan Osofsky who had her granddaughters, Olive and Lillie (left), lending a hand at her booth. Celebrities like Martha Stewart and Bette Midler were spotted shopping among the hundred of early buyers, but most everyone’s attention was focused on the bountiful merchandise and the glorious, sunny weather.
Volunteers Dorothy Felske and artist Karin Wexler; garden gurus Margaret Roach & Bob Hyland.
Hunter Bee’s Jonathan Bee with Tony Kiser and Lisa Atkin.
Robin Norris of Campo de’ Fiori in Sheffield with Made in the Berkshires co-founder Hilary Somers Deely; legendary fashion editors Polly Allen Mellen and Phyllis Posnick.
Trade Secrets co-founder Bunny Williams and Inge Heckel who’s a trustee of The Mount; antiques dealer David Duncan with designer Sheila Kotur and Michael McGraw.
Alfred Portale, the founder and executive chef of New York’s Gotham Bar and Grill, with Sophie Leibowitz and interior designer Matthew Patrick Smyth.
Janice Cronk and Serevan owner Serge Madikians; Richard Lambertson & Suzanne Cassano of Privet House with Eric Johnston.
Novelists Diane Meier and Frank Delaney; artist Clifton Jaeger and his daughter Emma.
Women’s Support Services counselor advocate Liz Davis and volunteer Jamie Bonello with Harney Tea‘s special Trade Secrets blend.
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Posted by Dan Shaw on 05/21/12 at 07:23 AM • Permalink
Raw Art, a Photography Show in Pawling
Marilyn Bethany reports from Pawling.
Gallery on the Green was the scene on Saturday, May 19 of the opening of a photography show, Raw Art, formal portraiture of vegetables by Lynn Karlin, a photographer who lives and works in Maine. Karlin’s pictures were featured in the The New York Times this past Thursday in an article by Ann Raver. While all in attendance seemed to concur with Raver that the photographs are remarkable, the crowd, including Griffin Kinahan, his mother Cynthia Kinahan, Bill Foscato, and Auden Kinahan, was somewhat divided on the virtue of vegetables themselves. Most espoused unreserved admiration, though a small but vocal minority seemed to have their doubts.
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Photographers Bob Demchuk and Lynn Karlin; Jill Blake, Barrie Blake, Dave Daniels, and Susan Daniels.
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Frank Montbach and Laura Crawford; Deborah DeWinter and Barbara Lanman, proprietor of The Pawling House B & B.
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Ted Rosen, Jill Rosen, and Ned Reade; Munja Orzolek, interior designer Frank Webb, and Bill Orzolek.
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Helen Grosso, Brandt Dayton, Kathleen Heidemann, Tian Dayton, and Terry Crowe Deegan; Joe Morales with gallery owners Jay Morales and Michelle Farnum.
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Kathy Scherer, Bob Demchuk, and Stan Scherer; Michael Marsh and Andrea Marsh
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Posted by Marilyn Bethany on 05/20/12 at 01:51 PM • Permalink
Construct’s Tasty Mayfest Fundraiser at Crissey Farms
Fiona Breslin reports from Great Barrington.
Despite the heavy rain, an eager crowd packed Crissey Farm on Monday, May 14 as more than 20 local restaurants and top chefs donated time, food, and spirits for Mayfest, Construct Inc.‘s annual event to raise funds for housing, support, and educational services in Southern Berkshire County. Underwritten by Herrington’s, the evening featured a smorgasbord from local purveyors, including Aegean Breeze, The Williamsville Inn, Rubiner’s, The Meat Market, Perigee Restaurant, The Red Lion Inn, Haven, Castle Street Café (owner Michael Ballon at left), and more, who served up everything from lasagna to chana masala. Mid-way through the evening the more than 225 attendees were asked to turn their attention from the delectables to the podium for a short performance by the Mixed Company theater group based on real-life interviews with Construct clients. Generosity and conviviality were the overriding flavors of the event, which raised $36,000 in ticket sales and donations. Adding extra spice was the presence of Mark Firth, co-founder of Brooklyn’s Diner. The farm-to-table chef is now tending his own farm in Monterey and will have a much shorter trip to the table; this summer he plans to open a restaurant, Bell & Anchor, in downtown Great Barrington.
The Old Mill’s Terry Moore shares oysters with Richard and Karen Farkas; board members Mark Rosengren and Barbara Schulman with Kerry Millikin and Caren Mercer Montano.
Committee member Bryn Davis with Craig McDowell and Nilo McDowell; Barbara Bunger, Construct’s Lisa Henriques, and former Construct chair Fred Bunger.
Construct board of directors vice president Barbara Manring and president Marilyn Wightman; Diner restaurant co-founder Mark Firth with Stephen Browning.
Barrington Bites’ Savannah Stalker and Sherri Gorelick ; Mary Short and Aegean Breeze’s Amanda Zucco.
Kosta Cami and Samuel Wendt, whose families own, respectively, Aegean Breeze and The Williamsville Inn; Howard Chezar and designer Patrcia Fox.
Joe Nejaime pours a red for Mayfest committee member Melissa McGarrity and Elise Abrams; Bryn Davis and her mother Cara Davis, executive director at Construct.
Actor Jessica Halfnight and Robbin Halfnight; patron Bob Tutnauer enjoys a crepe with Rachel Portnoy and Franck Tessier of Chez Nous.
Rich Dohoney, Mike Kinna, and Rich Herrington of Herrington’s; Aroma’s Parmjit and Barinder Chahal with their children Maniraj, Harshveer, and Ravjeet Chahal.
Volunteer Ron Kujawski with SoMa Catering’s Albert Halpern and Loretta Tenuta; board member Terrence Webb introduces Mixed Company.
The Red Lion Inn’s Stephanie Gravalese-Wood and Aaron Wood; Mixed Company’s Rudy Bach and playwright Joan Ackerman.
Allium’s Nancy Thomas doles out the treats; Liam Montano and Autobahn’s Dominic Lydon.
Rachel Kaufman with Mayfest committee members Jade Carroll and Jeremy Gabe; The Marketplace co-owners Kevin Schmitz and David Renner with Douglas Luff.
Kehr Davis and her daughter Aurora Davis; board member Shirley Yohalem with Ira Yohalem and shopkeeper Carrie Herrington of Wearhouse in Great Barrington.
Board member John Katz and Laura Katz; Peace, Love & Chocolate owner Ali Aronoff shares the love with her daughter Meghan Cum.
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Posted by Fiona Breslin on 05/15/12 at 10:44 AM • Permalink
A Tour & More: Spencertown Academy’s Hidden Gardens
Spring is in the air region-wide but at the Spencertown Academy, which is celebrating its 40th this year, it is also busting out all over the gallery walls. The Academy’s current exhibition, Artworks Inspired by the Garden, features Cristobal Morales’ blossom-like assemblages (also currently on exhibit at TK Home and Garden in Hudson) and a large collection of drawings, watercolors, botanical prints, textile and wallpaper designs—all manner of floral and garden-themed art, collected by Richard Eagen, co-owner of Gris, an antiques shop in Hudson. “Decades ago, I often visited a friend in Aix-en-Provence, where I would find these charming things at outdoor markets, little shops, bookstalls.” The proceeds from the art sale, which acts as a prelude to the “Hidden Gardens” tour on June 16, benefit the Academy. At left, this year’s tour co-chairs Madaline Sparks, contributing garden editor of Real Simple magazine, and Lydia Kukoff, each standing behind a Wave Hill chair, an adaptation of 1918 Rietveld design that has long been a signature of the renowned public garden in the Bronx. Unpainted facsimiles will be among the items sold at the Garden Market on the Green in Spencertown the day of the tour.
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Academy president Nick Van Alstine and interior designer Michael Krieger, who installed the exhibition; Jack Krauskopf, Academy board v. p. and former chair of the garden tour Marian Krauskopf and this year’s tour co-chair Madaline Sparks
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Shawn Hancock and Jan Moseman; James Raimes, Ann Raimes and Academy executive director Mary Anne Lee
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Stair Galleries auctioneer Rupert Fennell and artist Cris Morales; Robert Gilson, director of the 92nd Street Y School of the Arts, Rae Gilson and Cris Morales
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Ardal Powell and Melanie Hegge; Steve Isoz and Cynthia Lathrop
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Lee Magadini and Keith Galluzzo; Dan Tucker and Bob Newman
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Lydia Kukoff, Bella Meyer and Cathy Kaplan; Debby Byrum, Robert Leo and Catherine Schubert
Richard Eagan and Lydia Kukoff
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Posted by Marilyn Bethany on 05/14/12 at 04:24 PM • Permalink
At CATA Gala, Vibrant Vital Signs
Fiona Breslin reports from Lenox.
Community Access to the Arts, known as CATA, showed clear signs of vitality at this year’s annual fundraising performance and gala, held on May 12 at Shakespeare & Co. Called Vital Signs, the gala drew a record number of attendees for its hour-long showcase of CATA’s performing arts workshops, featuring more than 50 program participants and volunteers. Performers danced, acted, played instruments, sang, and juggled their way across the stage before taking their final bow. Since the show had already loosened the audience’s heart strings, it seemed easy for Lee auctioneer Lou Caropreso to cajole the crowd into opening their purse strings during a post-performance auction in which bidders received nothing but the knowledge that they were helping CATA continue its worthy mission: to nurture and celebrate the creativity of people with disabilities through shared experiences in the arts. Following the show, supporters enjoyed a buffet dinner catered by The Marketplace, with wine from Domaney’s and cocktails from Berkshire Montain Distillers, served in a glowing tent lit to complement the Vital Signs theme. Even the weather gods were generous, delivering a warm sunny day and a temperate evening so that guests could linger long past sunset and into the night.
CATA board president John Whalan with Katie Whalan and artist Dai Ban; Andy Potter and filmmaker Ben Hillman.
Tracy Mack and Michael Citrin, authors of a series of Sherlock Holmes mystery books for children; ReadMedia’s Colin Mathews with Michael Huth.
Cheryl Raifstanger, Olivia Raifstanger, and Barbara Manring; Rich Alrdich of Salisbury Bank with CarolAnn Patterson and Iredale Mineral Cosmetics chief operating officer Anthony Patterson.
Mahaiwe development director David Barrett with conservationists and Slow Money advocates Joel Millonzi and Neil Chrisman; Vital Signs performer Hazel Elsbach and Nancy Nirenberg.
Attorneys Vicki Bonnington (in Gaultier) and David Schecker; Jack Magnotti and Sammy Leffenfeld with party planner Amy Rudnick.
Longtime CATA supporter Heather Wells Heim and board member Liz Williams with CarolAnn Patterson; patrons Peter and Gussie Greer.
Realtor Nancy Kalodner and legendary dancer Marge Champion; Susannah Millonzi with her mother, CATA board member and parent Kate Millonzi.
Bill and Lisa Nappo with the decorating committee’s Stephanie Iverson, Simon’s Rock professor Brendan Mathews, and the gala committee’s Margaret Keller; Peter Gross, Elizabeth Gross, centenarian Helen Sirles with her daughter, CATA founder and executive director Sandra Newman.
Berkshire Improv’s Alexia Trainor and Barb Cardillo with Rachel Siegel; Eugene Cleary and skin specialist Maria Cleary.
CATA supporters Edith Velmans with Peter and Patricia Elsbach; CATA development & marketing director Liana Toscanini and board member Linda Cooper.
Publisher Kathy Regan with her daughter Brianna and Berkshire Montessori School classmates Noelia Salinetti, and Flora Paladino; head of Berkshire Country Day School Paul Lindenmaier, Lisa Rafel, Claire Naylor Pollart, Margaret Lindenmaier, and The Bookloft’s Eric Wilska.
Scott Hochfelder, George Haddad, Mark Snowise, MD, and Tim Suffish; the decorating committee’s Julia Erickson and handbag designer Gundula Brattke.
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Posted by Fiona Breslin on 05/13/12 at 10:08 PM • Permalink
Food Festival Ramps Up in Hudson
Dale Stewart reports from Hudson.
There was a palpable buzz in advance of the second annual Ramp Fest Hudson, and by all accounts (and palates) the event — held on Saturday, May 5 at the Basilica Hudson — surpassed expectations. Produced by Jeff Gimmel of Swoon Kitchenbar (pictured left, with gallerist Karen Davis) and stationery provocateur Alison Riley, Ramp Fest — a benefit for Glynwood — brought together Hudson Valley chefs and their NYC counterparts in a culinary homage to the beloved wild leek, and to spring itself. Foodies sampled a surfeit of inspired dishes such as slow-roasted beef brisket with ramp salsa verde from The Farmer’s Wife in Ancramdale; chilled ramp bisque and ramp popovers from Café Le Perche; and a tangy ramp and lime sorbet from DA|BA. For food news hounds, Ramp Fest also served up dish of another kind; according to sources close to Zak Pelaccio (the restaurateur behind NYC hot spots Fatty ‘Cue and Fatty Crab, and author of Eat with Your Hands), he and his wife/collaborator Jori Jayne Emde (aka Lady Jayne), who have a home in Old Chatham, are planning to open a yet-to-be-named spot off Warren Street later this year.
Mitchell, Hudson Alderman and attorney John Friedman, and Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation’s Betsy Gramkow; Myrto Daisy Schwab and Fest co-producer Alison Riley.
Music producer/musician Steve Durand, Dan McCabe, and musician Elvis Perkins; artist Carrie Waldman with Basilica co-owner, artist Bill Stone, and Waldman’s son, Lucas.
Jeanne Taylor, Daniela Rapp, Michael Bradham, and Jonathan Poplack; Martin Kenner with Life Coach Nicole Vidor.
Attorney Ed Reisner, artist David Franck, and art consultant/food blogger Manda Weintraub; Casson Kennedy and Loaf’s Sissy Onet.
Artist Abel Ramirez with Alderman/Hudson inn owner Chris Wagoner; Nicholas Nicoletti, Michael Williamson, Dan Renehan, and Lick Ice Cream’s Christopher Haupert.
Brad and Amy Barr with sculptor Monica Mechling and graphic designer Robert Mechling; Peggy Anderson and Hudson Wine Merchant’s Michael Albin.
Handpicked Nation‘s Tomiko Peirano and Katey Parker; Gabrielle and Robert Wile from Bergen County, NJ, planned their Hudson weekend around Ramp Fest.
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Posted by Dale Stewart on 05/07/12 at 08:52 AM • Permalink
Frank Langella Screening and Signing
Tara Kelly reports from Millerton.
The literati turned out to ogle the glitterati when the stylish antiques store Hunter Bee hosted a book signing for Frank Langella (pictured at left) on Saturday, May 5. Langella has been a busy man. He’s criss-crossing the country to promote two pet projects: his new memoir, Dropped Names Famous Men and Women as I Knew Them; and the movie Robot and Frank, to be released in August. Earlier in the day, The Moviehouse screened a special preview of the film, after which Langella, a Millerton resident, answered questions about the movie, his life, and his past roles, holding the audience in his thrall. Then everyone trooped over to the store to get a little face time with the man some know as Dracula, some as Nixon, and some as a neighbor.
Hunter Bee owners Kent Hunter (at left) and Jonathan Bee with their friend, author and actor Langella; The Moviehouse co-owner Bob Sadlon (photo on right) hosted the screening of Langella’s movie Robot and Frank.
Gwenn Evitts and her mother, Marion Evitts, came from Great Barrington; Cheryl Zellman and Marc Gordon.
Jonathan Bee with Judith Singelis of Argazzi Art in Lakeville and Murray Zimiles; literary agent Linda Michaels and writer Lynne Bragonier.
Millerton shop owner Kate Carty and her twin sister, Kelly Carty; Langella with his high school classmate, Anna Mae Kupferer, advertising manager at The Lakeville Journal Co.
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Posted by Tara Kelly on 05/06/12 at 12:38 PM • Permalink
