D AV I D PAT R I C K C O L U M B I A Kissinger, Barbara Liberman, and Annette de la Renta, co-chairs, hosted the annual Animal Medical Center’s Top Dog Gala 2011, honoring Diana Taylor with its Brooke Astor Award. Diana has two dogs, labrador retrievers named Bonnie and Clyde. Ms. Taylor’s acceptance speech was a big hit with the guests, especially in her revelations of life with the pets as well as the “Chief Dawg” she also lives with who needs pets just like everyone else (a.k.a. the Mayor). Hilarity abounded. Bonnie and Clyde also appeared in producer Daryl Roth’s documentary, My Dog: An Unconditional Love Story. Diana herself believes, like many of us, that animals play an important role in our lives. We also play an important role in their lives, which is one of the ways they play important roles in ours—caring, sharing, learning patience, and demonstrating affection—all good for what ails all of us. Diana donated
the proceeds from the film to the Animal Medical Center. Same night, more: Tory Burch, Jamie Tisch, and Caryn Zucker, as co-chairs, hosted a private cocktail party at Gucci to celebrate the upcoming fifth annual Spring Ball of the Society of Memorial SloanKettering Cancer Center. Ten percent of the proceeds from any sales went to MSKCC. And more! Over on East 58th Street, at the Paul Rudoph Nodulightor Building, Bauer and Dean Publishers hosted a launch of its inaugural title, Autobiography of a Fashion Designer: Ralph Rucci. Meanwhile, further up the line on Lexington Avenue and 73rd Street at Treillage, Bunny Williams was hosted a reception for Diana Quasha, who was presenting her collection of “shameless baubles and fabulous faux jewels.” Wait, there’s even more: At the Chinese Porcelain Company, Venetian Heritage was hosting a private reception for a solo exhibition of
photographer Renato D’Agostin’s The Beautiful Cliché—Venezia. The exhibition was presented in conjunction with the preview launch of Renato D’Agostin’s book of the same title. Among the international crowd were Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera, Daisy Soros, Toto Bergamo Rossi, Don and Muffy Miller, Marchese and Marchesa Alberto Berlingieri, Baronessa Mariuccia Zerilli Marimo, Princess Firyal, Peter Spears, Ann Nitze, Saundra Whitney, Lynn Nesbit, Felicia Taylor, and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia. All proceeds from the sales of the book and the photographs benefited Venetian Heritage. Another night, another dilly. Only two weeks to Christmas Eve. Down at Cipriani 42nd Street, the Child Mind Institute hosted its second annual Child Advocacy Award Dinner honoring Jane and Jimmy Buffett. Also, the 2012 Child Mind Institute Distinguished
Scientist Award was presented to Nobel Laureate Dr. Eric Kandel. Matt Lauer hosted. Chairs were Elizabeth and Michael Fascitelli, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, Brooke Garber and Daniel Neidich, Ron Perelman, Preethi Krishna, and Ram Sundaram. This is a remarkable organization, fairly new on the philanthropic scene, and very important. The CMI is dedicated to transforming mental health care for children everywhere. It is also another example of a group of people getting together and through focus and dedication, creating an entity to assist the community. Also, same night over at the Union Club, the Morris Animal Foundation honored Dr. Philip Bergman, DVM, at a dinner dance. Dr. Mark Morris is the vet who created Science Diet pet food and later created the Morris Animal Foundation to fund “impactful” research in veterinary medicine. The dinner dance featured
S U S A N M A G R I N O D U N N I N G C E L E B R AT E D H E R B I R T H D AY AT L E C I R Q U E
Maurie Perl and Sam Bolton 32 QUEST
Pat Kerr Tigrett
Chris Blackwell and Jim Dunning
Tish and Shane Krige
Carey Lowell, Susan Magrino Dunning and Richard Gere
Susanne McGrath and Patrick Reilly
Helen Murphy and Jane Heller
Terry and Stacey McDonell with Charles Stevenson
PAT R I C K M C M U LL A N
Richard Pandiscio, Todd Eberle and Bronson Van Wyck