ASPCA's Humane Awards Luncheon

Last week I went to the ASPCA's Annual Humane Awards Luncheon at The Pierre.I've nicknamed this event "the crying luncheon" because every year I end up sobbing with mascara running down my cheeks after hearing the touching, heroic stories of these extraordinary animals and people.

Here I am (pre-crying, mascara still intact) with my gorgeous friend Barbara Regna during cocktails:There were lots of animal-loving boldface names in attendance....

Like Isaac Mizrahi:
and Beth Ostrosky Stern:
The ASPCA's 'Public Service Award' was given to NY Fire Department Ladder #116 from Queens. This fire company rescued 30 cats and dogs from inside a locked pet store that had caught on fire. Ladder #116 pulled animal after animal from their cages to safety:Bravo boys! And when they showed mobile phone pics of these firemen holding/comforting the rescued, soot-covered animals I definitely started crying.

The ASPCA chose Pearl, a 4 year old Lab from California, as 'Dog of the Year'. Isn't she pretty?:Pearl is a highly trained search and rescue dog whose skills were put to the test after the earthquake in Haiti last January. She and her handler, Ron Horetski, flew to Haiti and worked almost non-stop for two weeks. They were able to locate and save 12 people buried in the rubble. Pearl is a true canine hero. I was so moved by her story (...and yes, I cried some more).

Photos courtesy of PatrickMcMullan.com and the ASCPA.

For more information on the ASPCA please visit their website.

Thornwillow Press - Correspondence Cards

Here's my latest lot of correspondence cards from Thornwillow Press:'Tis the season for thank you notes, and now I'm all stocked up and ready to write with this superior stationery.

The cheeky 'Ducks in a Row' motif:
And the elegant 'Golden Bone' and the delicate 'Beehive' motifs:These cards are Metropolitan size (4 5/16” x 6 3/16”) -- perfect for my quick notes.

There are dozens and dozens of Thornwillow designs to choose from... lightning bolts to lion's heads and everything in between can be found here.

Thornwillow just opened a library gallery in the St. Regis hotel. They took a wood-paneled room off the lobby and stocked it with limited editions, leather-bound books, and lots of their signature stationery. The King Cole Bar just down the hall makes the best Sidecars in town, so pop by the St. Regis for a tipple and a peek at this cozy reading room.

Thornwillow Press.

Book Parties

It's been a fun few days in New York filled with book parties...

Yesterday I went to Carlisle's luxurious midtown showroom -- which looks more like a Park Avenue library -- to watch David Patrick Columbia interview Alexandra Lebenthal about her new book, The Recessionistas.

Here's an iPhone shot I snapped of the two mid-conversation:Alexandra was very open and chatty. She talked about her happy marriage, her 'working mom' identity clashing with the stay-at-home moms at her kids' school, her Upper East Side childhood, her unconventional writing methods (including typing on a laptop while in the passenger seat of the family car on her way out to Long Island for the weekends), and so on.

She was charming, honest, and confident. I went home and bought the book.

Here's a snap of me with my buddy Tatiana Perkin at the event, via NY Social Diary:Photo by Ann Watt.

Later that night I headed down to Peter Pennoyer Architects for Emily Eerdman's book party.

Emily just wrote a book on Madeleine Castaing, a famous French interior designer with a passion for bold, bright blues and a personality that was a touch temperamental.

Emily's book:I've just started reading it, but so far so good -- exquisite photos and entertaining anecdotes galore.

Tonight I went to my friend Victoria Hagan's book party/signing at Daniel.

The party was packed with a glamorous crowd and somehow I ended up chatting with Martha Stewart (OMG!!!). I told Martha I'd just made her Almond-Plum Buckle and everyone in my house thought it was delicious. She was polite and delightful and just as awesome as you'd expect Martha to be. I resisted the urge to scream like a 14 year old girl at a Justin Bieber concert while I was standing next to her.

Victoria Hagan's book, Interior Portraits, showcases a handful of the elegant, chic homes she's decorated in Greenwich, Manhattan, Nantucket, etc. I love her clean, refined aesthetic and loved thumbing through 20 years of her gorgeous work.

Victoria's book:And now a quiet few days in the country where I can read all three of these entertaining books...

Monty Monday - Monty the Male Model

Yesterday Monty headed downtown for a photo/portrait session with the uber-talented NYC-based photographer, Jade Albert.

The studio was buzzing with activity when we arrived. There were lights, cameras, props, food, and talent everywhere:
It was a boisterous scene, but Monty - always the consummate professional - chilled on this inflatable ottoman and waited for his call time:Jade selected a blue background and a small blue chair for Monty's shoot.

Here's Monty (looking at me instead of looking at the camera) while Jade lines up her shot:Jade works quickly and skillfully, and she got some *awesome* shots of little Monty. I'll post those in another entry soon.

After the solo shoot, Jade had her handsome Yorkie, Albert, pose for some pics with Monty.

Wrangling two small dogs can get a bit tricky. There was an awful lot of this going on during the set-up:
But these boys were well-behaved and obedient. They looked smashing when they posed as a pair:
....and then there were a few when Monty hunched his neck down and Albert looked off in the other direction. But they can't all be winners, right?:
Monty was a champion -- cooperative, calm, and cute all afternoon. He was completely exhausted after his shoot and thought this giant teddy bear prop would make a perfect bed:
A well-deserved rest for my favorite male model:Jade's professional photos of Monty to follow shortly...

Shopping at Paola Quadretti for the Society of MSKCC

Yesterday I went to fashion designer Paola Quadretti's atelier for an afternoon of shopping benefiting the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's annual appeal.

Paola Quadretti is based in Florence but recently opened a new boutique in an Upper East Side townhouse.

There were lots of ladies shopping for this great cause:Paola Quadretti's line is all handmade and they've got everything a glamour girl could want...

From bejeweled flats:
To embellished evening gowns:(I especially love that blue dress on the left.)

And fur shrugs in every color imaginable, like light lilac:
Here's the designer looking chic in charcoal gray:
And here I am with the president of the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Heather Leeds (wearing a pretty, red Paola Quadretti number):The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's 2010 Annual Appeal will target melanoma. One American dies of melanoma every hour(!). Not only is it the most aggressive form of skin cancer, but it's also the fastest rising cancer diagnosis in western populations. The Society will raise about $1 million dollars for this important initiative this year.

If you'd like to contribute to the Annual Appeal, you can do so via MSKCC's website.

For more information on the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, please visit their website.

For more information on Paola Quadretti's designs, please visit her website.

Sherwood Island - Outtakes

There were lots of nice, pretty photos from Monday's entry at Sherwood Island. But I also downloaded a bunch that belong in my blog's blooper reel.

I got a kick out of seeing these 'outtakes', and thought you might enjoy some of my not so perfect pictures too...

Looking all strong in Warrior II:
Until a giant gust of wind came, blew sand in my face, and made me teeter backwards while flapping my arms wildly:
I got a kick out of bungling that pose:Later on I decided it would be fun to attempt a cartwheel. (I really hope my physical therapist isn't reading today. Mickey, if you are: I'm sorry; you know I'll never learn.)

I completed a few successful cartwheels, but those photos aren't that interesting. This one is...

My awesome cartwheel fail:
And the subsequent clumsy, klutzy landing:Ta da!

I might not be Cirque du Soleil material, but at least I can laugh at myself:
A curtsy for my graceful yoga/acrobatics performance:

Almond-Plum Buckle

This almond-plum buckle is fruity, hearty, and perfect for a cool autumn night. Garnish with vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream (...or both like I did).

Ingredients:* Nonstick vegetable oil spray

* 1/2 cup whole almonds (about 2 1/2 ounces)
* 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
* 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 cup plus 4 teaspoons sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

* 1 pound plums (about 6 medium), halved, pitted, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
* 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation:

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Spray 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides with nonstick spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper round.

Finely grind almonds in processor. Transfer to medium bowl; whisk in flour, baking powder, and salt. Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add 1 cup sugar; beat until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and almond extract, then flour mixture just until incorporated.

Transfer batter to prepared pan; spread evenly and smooth top with spatula. Gently press plum slices, flesh side down, into batter in spoke pattern around outer rim and center of cake, placing close together. Mix cinnamon and 4 teaspoons sugar in small bowl. Sprinkle over plums.

Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 20 minutes. Run small knife between cake and pan sides to loosen. Invert cake onto platter; remove parchment paper. Place another platter atop cake. Using both hands, hold both platters firmly together and invert cake, plum side up. Cool cake completely. Cut into wedges.

Ready to go in the oven:
After baking:
I successfully flipped it out of the pan without having it fall to the floor. Win!:
My slice with ice cream and whipped cream. Super delicious:Recipe via Epicurious.

Monty Monday - Sherwood Island

Yesterday we took a trip to Sherwood Island State Park. It's a pretty 235 acre park on Long Island Sound in Westport, CT. There's a little bit of beach, some grassy fields, picnic tables, a big pavilion, a nature center, and lots of land to explore. From October-April dogs are allowed to visit, so we brought Monty along...

The beachfront pavilion buzzes with activity in the summertime. It was deserted this weekend, but we enjoyed the view from up top:
Monty and the Palms Springs-esque railing:
I love my little man:
Monty down by the water's edge, balancing on the rocks and enjoying the late afternoon sun:
That's us way out on the jetty:I carried him so his sensitive paws wouldn't get hurt by the sharp stones.

Racing back to the park to see Chappy:
...and then climbing all over the picnic table and Chappy:
Continuing with the 'dog under Mel doing yoga poses' series... Monty, with me doing Vasisthasana in the sand:
The beach boys:

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Girl Scout Council of Greater NY's 'Women of Distinction' breakfast

Earlier this week I attended the Girl Scout Council of Greater NY's annual 'Women of Distinction' breakfast in midtown.

I'm a proud member of the GSCNY's Leadership Advisory Board and was excited to play an active role on the committee of this benefit event. My late mother-in-law was a longtime board member of the GSCNY and I'm happily carrying on the family tradition.

Here I am at the event with an impressive group of woman:From left to right -- Mary S. Phipps, Lynn Foster, emcee Deborah Norville, Carolina Torres, and yours truly.

I was a little sleepy because that picture was taken at 7.15am (before I'd had any coffee!), but it was hard not to smile amongst such terrific company.

The Girl Scout Council of Greater NY serves more than 23,000 girls in virtually every zip code of New York City’s five boroughs from every socioeconomic sector.

I loved Girl Scout's programs when I was a little 'Brownie':And I still have that sash.

Emcee Deborah Norville in action:Deborah actually donned her sash for part of her emceeing duties -- that should earn her an additional merit badge.

An adorable pair, a Brownie and Daisy who came to help out during the breakfast:
The group of distinguished honorees:L. to R. -- Arlene Issacs-Lowe, Vanessa Lau, Carolina Torres, Terri Austin, Nadja Swarovski and Barbara J. Cooperman.

Each of these women gave moving speeches -- about their values, about their families/childhood, about the lessons they learned as Girl Scouts, about how and why they were successful. It was an inspiring, positive morning.

Professional photographs by Jerry Speier.

For more information on the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York please visit their website.