Dale Stewart reports from Livingston.Neither thunder and lighting nor threat of tornadoes deterred the turnout for A Celebration of Clermont at Forth House on Saturday, September 8. The annual benefit, thrown by the Friends of Clermont, raises funds for new projects, such as a video documentary of the Clermont estate, and restoration of the Gardener's Cottage. Instead of dampening the party, intermittent showers gave partygoers more time to appreciate their hosts’ stunningly restored, circa 1830s Greek Revival mansion, originally built, like Clermont itself, for the Livingston Family. A venerable brick mansion on the edge of Columbia County, Forth House was painstakingly restored by its owners, composer Scott Frankel and architect James Joseph, pictured left. Frankel even flew in from London to host the event. Revelers enjoyed Farm Table’s smoked salmon canapés and Cosmopolitans on the spacious back lawn. A live auction prompted friendly bidding wars over items such as an Oriental rug and a whole dressed lamb. The silent auction brought high bids on a luxury bag of FACE Stockholm products and a winter week's stay at an Al Beale-designed apartment in Phoenix.
Andrew McKenzie with pilates instructor Chelsea Streifeneder; John and Barbara Coffey with Barbara Gentile and Anthony Miserandino.
Lisa and Gordon Weiss; gallerist Patrick Terenchin, Michael Moy, and Joe Sniado.
Tom Swope, Friends of Clermont president Tracie Rozhon, and Henry Van Ameringen; Friends of Clermont trustee Conrad Hanson and Michael Doucet.
Kathryn Windley and Gary DiMauro with architect Sarah Sweeny; David Dubin and Joan Davidson.
Photographer Pieter Estersohn, designer Tanya Minhas, and auctioneer J Winthrop Aldrich; Moisha Blechman and Douglas Bryce.
Geoff Howell, composer Scott Frankel and Face Stockholm's Martina Arfwidson and her children, Nikita and Teo.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
