Dale Stewart reports from Ghent.Spencertown Academy Arts Center kicked off its 40th anniversary with a weekend full of horticultural happenings designed to delight garden enthusiasts and social butterflies alike. First up: the annual Twilight in the Garden cocktail party, on Friday, June 15, yet another sign that summer’s in full swing. The Academy’s all-volunteer catering crew, Let's Eat!, provided the food, and a few dancing woodland nymphs from the American Dance Institute provided the entertainment. “It’s the best day of the year so far," remarked host Eric Reiff, as he stood with wife Jami Rubin, above, gazing at other Spencertown supporters enjoying the bucolic soiree.
Eric Spiegel, Bob Newman, Dale Schafer, and artist Phillip Schwartz; Joanne Knauss, Austerlitz Historical Society's Gail Kashen, and Jan Steinbrenner.
Joe Behm, Joan Castle, and sought-after landscape designer Philippe Soule: Academy president Nick Van Alstine shares a toast with Gary and Leslie Katz.
Spencertown Hidden Gardens Tour co-chair Lydia Kukoff with Eleanor Oldham, John Luckacovic, and fellow co-chair Madaline Sparks, contributing garden editor with Real Simple magazine.
Academy patrons Denise D’Agostino and Brad Barr; Vermonter Jennifer Shasberger visiting her friends Chuck Weinlein and Shawn Hartley-Hancock, the newly appointed editor of The Advocate Weekly.
Former Gourmet Magazine editor Ruth Reichl with Elizabeth Diggs; Jo-Anne Bilotti and Spencertown Academy executive director Mary Anne Lee.
Jerry Croghan is flanked by Brad and Amy Barr; John Fiorillo, Sandra Pippa, and Rae Gilson.
John Cooley, author Elizabeth Hess, cyberfeminist artist Faith Wilding, and author James Raimes.
Written by
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
