Stewards of the Hudson Gather on its Bank

It was a party with a beautiful purpose. On Saturday, as the mighty and the almost meek met on the grounds of Joan Davidson's elegantly unpretentious riverfront property for their annual update on efforts to preserve the glories of the Hudson River Valley, speechifying politicians didn't stand a chance against the silent profundity of the view (above). Nonetheless, two United States Congressmen and a State Parks Commissioner preached to an appreciative choir, giving thanks where it was due throughout the crowd, none more so than to the hostess herself.

New York State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash and Joan Davidson, who chaired last year's Hudson River Quadricentennial Celebration committee.

Scott Murphy, Democrat from New York's 20th District, and Maurice Hinchey, Democrat from New York's 22nd.

Documentary filmmaker Jay Corcoran and advertising exectuive Gary Delemeester; Donald and Ann Crews

Christopher, Laura and David Detrick; marketing consultant Fred Doner and artist Michele Oka Doner

Theodore Weiss, his mother Martine Arfwidson, Mikita Weiss, and Gun Nowak, of the Face Stockholm cosmetics company; Betsy Howard and the writer Hugh Howard

Hermes Mallea, Dr. Elizabeth Beautyman, and her husband Gordon Travers, board chairman at The Mount; Elizabeth Beautyman and Gordon Travers's famously fabulous footwear.

Stef-Albert Bothma with Sophie and James Male with Buster Brown; the photographer Valerie Shaff, Martine Arfwidson and her children, and Sheva Fruitman

Edward Tivnan and Maisie Tivnan; Flore Campion and the cartoonist Barbara Slate

Singer Johnnie Moore, artist Laetitia Hussein, writer and social activist Sam Pratt, and writer David Gargill; Commissioner Carol Ash and Rural Intelligence's Marilyn Bethany

Michael Roberts, The Shaker Museum and Library's Jeff Daly, Russ Pomeranz, president emeritus of the Columbia County Historical Society, Tini Pomeranz (foreground), Susan Tripp, and David Tripp