FashionEtc.com April 19th, 2024

Jay McInerney has been hailed as one of the greatest writers of our time. He has been compared to Fitzgerald and Carver, and for good reason. His best-selling books exhibit depth, humor and a deep understanding of human behavior. Bright Lights, Big City influenced an entire generation, and is now considered a classic.

His most recent book,The Juice: Vinous Veritas, is a compilation of McInerney's wine experiences from around the globe, told with his characteristic insight and humor. To celebrate its publication, McInerney and his wife, Anne Hearst McInerney, invited their friends to their chic Greenwich Village penthouse for some wine, of course, and cocktails.

Brooke Shields, Dirk Wittenborn, A.M. Homes, Will Cotton and Rose Dergan, Griffin Dunne, Gary Fisketjon, Ross Bleckner, Nicole Miller and Jennet Conant came to congratulate McInerney and to mingle on the lovely terrace, cleverly tented in case of rain.

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Rachel Hovnanian is an artist whose work is always evolving. Each incarnation has hit the rare combination of being cerebrally engaging as well aesthetically pleasing.

Her most recent work, currently on exhibit at the Leila Heller Gallery, is no exception. The name of the exhibition is Mud Pie, and it explores the links we have lost to what is real, the experiences of closeness and sharing, to the narcissistic side of digital life. The exhibition includes photographs, a performance piece called Cafe, which recreates a small cafe in Texas, an elegant dinner table installation for two with husband an wife replaced by LCD panels, and the gorgeous Gates of Narcissus Metal Panels.

"We've forgotten what is real," said Hovnanian. "Fast food chains replaced cafes; children think a package of pink powder mixed with water is real lemonade made with freshly squeezed pink lemons. We think we have 1,000 real friends on Facebook. We are sucked into our screens and can't find the time to separate from technology. Only when the power is down, or if we are visiting a remote place with no wireless, can we take a break."

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The Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon, aka The Hat Lunch, took place in Central Park on a rainy May 2nd. For many women, this event is a labor of love, as outfits are meticulously chosen, topped off by some of the most incredible hats on the planet.

"Are you wearing a hat?" is a question I've been hearing for weeks. It's been years since I've worn a hat to the Hat Lunch, but this year I was determined to.

I put my whole outfit together weeks before. When the weather turned cold and rainy, I scrapped it, shopped in my closet, silently thanked Kate Middleton for giving me permission to wear panty hose, and still wore my hat.

I rode up to 105th Street with Muffie Potter Aston—wearing Pucci and a fabulous hat that she designed with a little help from her twin girls Ashleigh and Bracie—and with Somers Farkas, who was wearing a Maggie Norris suit and an ocean-themed Eric Javits fascinator.

"I love Central Park. The Conservancy does such great work to keep the parks beautiful, not only for us to enjoy but for our children to play in," said Aston.

"The Park is instrumental in the business and the quality of life of New York City. This is an important event to support," said Farkas.

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The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Spring Ball is one of the most highly anticipated evenings of the season. It has the right mix of people, venue and entertainment. It's a great cause, and the dynamic (and popular) chairmen work tirelessly to make it a flawless evening.

Last night the Fifth Annual Spring Ball was held at the Temple of Dendur, with tables interspersed throughout the mix of ancient Egypt and modern architecture. Gucci was the sponsor, and chairmen Tory Burch, Muffie Potter Aston, Caryn Zucker and Jamie Tisch were spectacularly swathed in Gucci confections.

"It's a milestone for Sloan Kettering to have such an incredible setting, a great sponsor, and all these people supporting it, raising money for a cause that is special to me and special to everyone in this room," said Burch, who is set to open a store in Beirut this summer.

The Spring Ball's initiative will raise money for a gene targeted cell therapy program for pediatric resistant leukemia, led by Dr. Richard O'Reilly, Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at MSKCC.

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