Imagine walking through the dark of Central Park and into a spooky and magical environment inundated with acid green light. Under a tent at Rumsey Playfield on Mid-central Park at 72 street, over 400 ingeniously dressed New Yorkers were celebrating the spirit of Halloween just a tad bit early.
The guests at last night’s Central Park Conservancy Gala attended the gala with some amazing costumes. Some of the best costumes included a Tea Party, a Central Park Concession Stand, The Tea Bag Couple, Sully and the Wayward Goose. WABC personalities Lauren Glassberg and Kimberly Richardson joined Harlan Bratcher, President and CEO of A/X Armani Exchange to judge the best over-the-top costumes with wonderful prizes that included luxurious stays on the romantic Surrey Hotel on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
The night included cocktails that were passed around by waiters in green ties and chit chat amidst the mystical fog and spider webs. Guests dined under the great cloud formations and willow trees that moved across the ceiling. The dinner menu was created by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events featuring a Honey-Roasted Quince Salad, Pan-Seared Creekstone Farms Sirloin with Shallot-Cabernet Jus, and delicious Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding. The attendees danced the night away to the sounds of DJ Tom Finn on the spooky swamp like dance floor decorated with whimsical tree stumps and flaming candlelight.
Led by chairs and committee members including Suzanne and Robert Cochran, Judy and John Angelo, Kristy and Jonathan Korngold, John Stossel, Anita and Stuart Subotnick, Patsy and Jeff Tarr, Julie Wurts, Kipton Cronkite, Corrente Schankler, Amy Tarr as well as CPC President and Central Park Administrator Doug Blonsky, NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Women’s Committee President Gillian Miniter and Emcee WABC News’ Lee Goldberg. The event is the foremost fundraiser for the Central Park Conservancy raising over $700,000 to benefit the Conservancy and its mission to maintain and preserve Central Park to its former splendor.
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Everyone loves a delicious slice of pizza. It’s the perfect snack, lunch with friends or even intimate dinner in a romantic dinner. This originally Neapolitan dish tops the charts around the world and most certainly so in Dubai. Check out below the top five places to get the best pizza in Dubai.
Haute Secrets Miami
Name: Gisela Lowenstein
The stats: Born in Buenos Aires; lived in Miami for 11 years; currently in Coral Gables.
Favorite thing about Miami: The diversity of people from all over the world.
As the wife of a successful hotelier and art collector, Diego Lowenstein, Gisela Lowenstein could simply sit back and let her husband be the breadwinner. However, this Argentinean is an entrepreneur in her own right. With her expertise from degrees in hospitality and hotel management, she created an innovative DVD called “The Glow System” (in English and in Spanish) to provide simple, time-saving techniques for home improvement, organization and maintenance. She says it’s perfect for those who are hiring a new housekeeper and helping ensure that your home will literally “glow.” As a breast cancer survivor, Lowenstein plans on donating 10 percent of sales of her product to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure through the end of the year.
Check out Gisela Lowenstein’s favorite haute spots in Miami at Haute Secrets.
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Why not start off the weekend right at Miami’s newest garden-to-table restaurant: Eden South Beach. (Literally the newest…it opens today.)
Eden is the brainchild of four local industry professionals— the CEO of Société Hospitality Kelley Jones, nightlife magnate Chuck Schafer, entrepreneur Lawrence Rizzo and Top Chef Masters alum chef Christopher Lee. “We wanted to create a destination, where guests can enjoy food, drink, nightlife and culture — all in one space,” Jones explains. “We are proud to take our concept to Miami; the location, energy and vibe made it the obvious choice for Eden.”
The extensive menu at Eden is a local, garden-infused mixture of American dishes with the prerequisite that they are made using the freshest ingredients. Items include grilled littleneck clams, blackened chicken quesadillas, beef carpaccio and braised beef short ribs. “We want the menu to be approachable for everyone; simple yet vibrant with bright, bold tastes,” Chef Lee says.
Located at a renovated historic building on 23rd Street, the décor of Eden evokes a calm, nature-lovers’ dream getaway in its 3,000 square-foot interior space. The restaurant is said to have “the quintessence of paradise, but the modern attitude of South Beach.” Interior designer Andrew Alford of Dirty Lines Design Studio created an atmosphere that includes many Garden of Eden references such as the recurring snake image and the integration of the taboo letter “X”. The restaurant also includes a private outdoor patio that is the perfect place for a quiet meal or one of Eden’s exotic signature cocktails.
Eden South Beach opens today and is located at 210 23rd St., Miami Beach. For reservations call 305.397.8760. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and Saturdays and Sundays for brunch. For more information, visit www.edensouthbeach.com.
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On Oct. 25, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars attended the 14th annual Hollywood Awards Gala presented by Starz at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Hosted by Entertainment Tonight’s Mary Hart, the red carpet affair brought out some of Tinseltown’s most recognized. Among those in attendance were Halle Berry, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, Diane Lane, Josh Brolin, Heather Graham, Hilary Swank, James Franco, Jodie Foster, Leighton Meester, Mila Kunis, Minnie Driver, Morgan Freeman, Sean Penn and Sylvester Stallone. The event, which serves as the official kick-off to the awards season, honors excellence in the art of filmmaking, as well as the creative individuals within the global community.
A look at some of those who were honored:
- Ryan Murphy presented Annette Bening with the Hollywood Actress Award.
- Josh Brolin presented Robert Duvall with the Hollywood Actor Award.
- Lt. General Ken Keen presented Sean Penn with the Hollywood Humanitarian Award.
- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis presented Sylvester Stallone with the Hollywood Career Achievement Award.
- Danny Devito presented Morgan Freeman and Lorie McCreary with the Hollywood Innovator Award.
- Carey Mulligan presented Andrew Garfield with the Hollywood Breakthrough Actor Award.
- Bryce Dallas Howard presented Mia Wasikowska with the Hollywood Breakthrough Actress Award.
- Andy Garcia presented Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas for “Inception” with the Hollywood Movie Award.
- Halle Berry presented Tom Hooper with the Hollywood Director Award.
- James Franco presented Danny Boyle and Chris Colson with the Hollywood Producer Award.
To view complete list of winners, visit www.hollywoodawards.com.
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Name: Scott Meltzer
The Stats: Born in New York; has lived in Los Angeles for 25 years, currently in West Hollywood.
Why he loves Los Angeles:The Weather
Having worked his way onto the position of West Coast General Manager for Michael Kors, Scott Meltzer knows how to get what he wants. His ambitious character brought him to LA over 25 years ago, and the time he has spent as an L.A. resident and his elite position within the community has enabled him to learn first-hand about the about the hautest spots and trends in L.A. Of course, working for Michael Kors, the leading American designer for luxury accessories and sportswear, couldn’t hurt either.
Check out Scott Meltzer’s favorite haute spots in Los Angeles at Haute Secrets.
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Kristin Jackson
Haute Secrets Hawaii
Name: Kristin Jackson
The stats: Born in Wilmington, N.C., has lived in Hawaii for 15 years, and loves Morimoto Waikiki.
Why she loves Hawaii: “Being able to put my feet in grass every day. We are completely surrounded by beauty, which helps me deal with the stresses of life and work.”
Kristin Jackson has a varied background, offering full-service marketing, advertising and public relations consulting to a wide-range clients in the retail, commercial and entertainment industries. As owner of Jackson INK, she has represented prominent non-profit organizations, famed show Baywatch Hawaii, and was the Unit Publicist for the hit show, LOST. Select current clients include Ballet Hawaii, Hawaii Theater and Morimoto Waikiki. Through her well-known clients and their complimenting events alone, Jackson certainly knows what’s haute in Hawaii.
Check out Kristin Jackson’s favorite haute spots in Hawaii at Haute Secrets.
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Resort developer/designer Steve Wynn hit the jackpot in Sin City with his great vision, but the 68-year-old billionaire is still reinventing and expanding his empire. When the casino king plays, he always wins.
If being in Las Vegas feels like an escape from reality, like a warp hole with no end in sight to the lights, glitz, and gambling, then Steve Wynn has succeeded. Inspired by family trips to Disneyland and the Fountainebleau Miami Beach in the 1950s, the tsar of Las Vegas has build his own fantastical empire in Sin City, among towering edifices that blur the line between reality and fantasy.
“The idea of a world that was more perfect, more idyllic than the outside world struck me as a really cool thing,” says the 68-year-old billionaire with a net worth of about $1.6 billion. When the Fountainebleau opened in 1954, it was the greatest destination on earth; everybody all over came to the resort during the winters. And Disneyland was its younger version. “The Fountainebleau and Disneyland moved my father, mother, and I. Ben Novack and Walt Disney both created these emotional experiences that you can live in, wrap yourself in. My entrepreneurial spirit was very much tied to the notion of creating a place that was much better than the outside world. And that’s what I wanted to do—to build places like that.”
Indeed, the hotelier and casino king is the expert of inspiring awe. He arguably has made more impact on the Vegas skyline than anyone, starting with a small stake in the Frontier Hotel and Casino operation when he first arrived in Las Vegas and then with the Golden Nugget in the mid ‘70s, which he revamped and expanded. But Wynn struck gold when he revolutionized the hotel world and revitalized the Las Vegas Strip with the Mirage in 1989, Treasure Island in 1993, and Bellagio in 1998. Then when Vegas became too trite again, Wynn turned another corner and wowed the world with Wynn Las Vegas in 2005. And when the economic downturn halted spending nationwide, Wynn played the wild card and opened Encore a few days before Christmas in 2008.
The casino resort tycoon who keeps turning the heat up in Las Vegas has also turned the heat on Washington recently when discussing the future of the Wynn Empire: “Asia,” he says. With a Wynn and Encore in Macau and a third forthcoming hotel in China, Wynn has proclaimed on-air, “Macau has been steady. The shocking, unexpected government is the one in Washington.” Regardless of where the company will expand, one thing is certain—everything Steve Wynn touches turns to gold.
Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. Check back daily for more info on the most powerful people in your city. Los Angeles Lakers fans were treated to a double-dose of pride Tuesday night at the Staples Center as the champions rang in the 2010-11 season with a win against the Houston Rockets, and a heartfelt championship ceremony, which included the unveiling of the Lakers 16th banner, the 10th in 31 years under owner Dr. Jerry Buss.
Dr. Jerry Buss & Jeanie Buss
Category: Entrepreneurs
Industry: Sports
Company: L.A. Lakers
What Made Him Haute: Under his ownership, the Lakers have won 10 NBA titles, made it to the finals 15 times and won almost 70 percent of their games, making Buss the most successful owner among any professional sports league and the Lakers the most valuable franchise in the NBA. In 2010, Buss was finally inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. His daughter, Jeanie, is the executive vice president of business operations for the Lakers and girlfriend of Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson.
What Makes Him Haute Now: How do the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate greatness? The answer lies in Tuesday night’s revelry at the Staples Center. The overture to the Lakers 2010-11 season opener constituted a fraternal allegiance, the unveiling of the 2009-10 championship banner, and the presentation of arresting championship rings, designed with the influence of Dr. Jerry Buss. Designed by a close friend of the Buss’, each of the approximately 60 16-karat gold championship rings details the 16 titles in franchise history with 16 oversized diamonds, in addition to three karats of diamonds and leather portions of one of the basketballs used during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Each player’s ring is made even more intricate with a three-dimensional sculpture of his face and jersey number. Lakers executive vice president of business operations Jeanie Buss was an integral part of the ring ceremony, as was the outpouring of thanks to fans, almost 19,000 of which were present at the celebration and opening game, and owner Jerry Buss, whom Kobe Bryant regarded as “the greatest team owner in team sports.” Reminding L.A. fans that “The Trilogy Continues,” the back-to-back champions pulled off a 112-110 victory over the Houston Rockets.
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How does one commemorate two decades of sugar coated-divinity? Why, with chocolate of course. Selling some of the world’s finest chocolate, La Maison du Chocolat has been pouring sugar on New Yorkers for 20 years, and to celebrate La Maison’s 20th anniversary in New York, the Madison Avenue boutique is inviting guests to satisfy their sweet tooths at “La Nuit du Gâteau” on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
A golden ticket to samplings of all-time classics as well as brand new creations such as chocolate tarts, macaroons and ice-cream, “La Nuit du Gâteau” will feature complimentary desserts and drinks with live jazz music setting the night’s ambiance. And while we can’t promise a chocolate river, you’ll get a sneak preview of ambrosial desserts that would make even Wonka jealous: from mouth-watering cakes like La Maison Mousse au Chocolat, The Salvador Cake and the sTARTElette, to sublime, newly launched La Maison du Chocolat éclairs.
An evening dedicated to pastry and chocolate, guests are urged to discover The Chocolate Pastry Collection, and delve into French savoir-faire with the help of Master Pastry Chef-Chocoaliter and Creative Director Gilles Marchal. Using only the best cacao vintages and assembling them according to their aromatic qualities, Marchal and his team of pastry chefs pursue melt-in-your-mouth perfection with the creation, presentation, and finishing details of every treat. La Maison’s other New York boutiques — at 30 Rockefeller Center and 63 Wall Street — each sharing the same La Maison du Chocolat philosophy of creating refined, gourmet pastries in chocolate, with perfectly balanced flavors, novelty and renewed creativity, with constant attention to detail, excellence and authenticity — will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. offering tastings of desserts and chocolate pastries to all visitors. Oh mon dieu!
La Maison du Chocolat is located at 1018 Madison Avenue at 78th Street, New York, N.Y., 212.744.7117; www.lamaisonduchocolat.com.
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Dec/Jan 2012
