Clockwise from left: Wilbur Ross, Lily Marlborough, Anne Hearst McInerney, and Sunny Marlborough aboard Athena; the owner of Quattro Passi with Robin Pickett; Giovanni Russo relaxes outside with a cigar; Harry’s Bar in London, England.
food. Next day, we hopped on the boat and sailed to heavenly Capri to have lunch at Il Riccio, a divine open-air restaurant decorated in blue and white overlooking the water near the Blue Grotto. We poked around Capri and, the next night, headed to dinner at the twostar Ristorante Quattro Passi by Marina di Cantone, with wonderful food and an extremely serious wine cellar. Next stop was lunch with Giovanni Russo and his houseguest Julian Schnabel on his private island—really and truly a paradise—Li Galli. There, we dined al fresco on homemade pasta, grilled fresh fish, and so much more. On to Ravello, where we dined at another two-star treasure: Rossellinis at Palazzo Sasso. The last stop was an old favorite, Il San Pietro de Positano, where we dined on the glorious terrace that looks like it’s right out of a movie set. We said goodbye to Athena and flew to London, which was rocking more than any boat I’ve ever been on! We hit the ground running and went to a beautiful wedding reception for Mariela Tsavliris and Stavros Livanos. Next day, we had lunch at a new hotspot named 34 on Grosvenor Square with Karen and Richard LeFrak and Harry LeFrak before we headed to the hit musical Matilde, which we loved! Next night, Carol and Earle Mack had a big cocktail party at the Ritz with a “Sixties Reunion” theme while Michael Goedhuis opened
an exhibition called “INK—the Art of China” at Saatchi Gallery. Afterward, we had a dinner at Harry’s Bar. Next day, we dined at another terrific new private-member’s establishment, 5 Hertford Street, which has a nightclub in its basement called Loulou’s. This space with multiple floors was created by Robin Birley, son of famed tastemaker Mark Birley. It’s a great big hit! We dined with the LeFraks and spotted David Tang, Larry Gagosian, Diana and Philip Herrai, Michel of Yugoslavia, Leo and Grega Daly, Taki Theodoracopulos, Deborah Norville and Karl Wellner with Annabelle and William Astor, and lots more. Speaking of the Astors, the next day they took us to lunch at the House of Lords. Oh, if those walls could talk! Another night we dined at Lita and George Livanos’s glorious house with its luscious garden filled with white flowers. We also laughed nonstop at One Man, Two Guvnors, danced the night away at Catherine and Nico Kairis’s dinner dance at the Dorchester, and more. There was the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation festivities, Sunny Marlborough’s picnic, and Lady Bamford’s luncheon. Don’t forget Wimbledon, the Masterpiece Fair and kick-off party, Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball, and more. Back to our shores in Southampton, where the fun was just getting started on July 4th. Pamela Gross and Jimmy
Finkelstein kicked off the celebrations honoring Lally Weymouth’s birthday with a big dinner followed by a little dinner given by Joanne and Roberto de Guardiola at their wonderful house— so beautifully decorated by Joanne, natch! Seems like everyone is wearing short summer dresses in Southampton, probably because of the heat, so Joanne was a star in Dolce & Gabbana and Karen LeFrak looked lovely in white eyelet Oscar de la Renta. After sipping cocktails, it was into their renovated barn to feast on gazpacho, grilled Australian leg of lamb, grilled local vegetables, summer corn salad, and yummy Sip ’n Soda vanilla ice cream with strawberryrhubarb pie! Among the guests were newlyweds Don Graham and Amanda Bennett, Mike Bloomberg and Diana Taylor, Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch, Judy and Rudy Giuliani, Wilbur Ross, Richard LeFrak, Georgette Mosbacher, and more. Speaking of Lally, the following night was her fabulous annual summer party that we all look forward to. It is always the party of the year, every year! After sipping cocktails in an oval tent, we headed into a brown-andwhite striped tent created by Bronson van Wyck and a scrumptious buffet by Glorious Food. All in all, a blast! Must mention the party Billy Norwich gave to celebrate “Cut and Paste,” Dora Frost’s wonderful exhibition of her paintings alongside Garrett Chingery’s work. u AUGUST 2012 139