social safari
by
R. COURI HAY
High Society’s Reigning Hostesses
The Smart Set Goes Skating, Line Dancing, Gallery Hopping and to Europe LUNCHING WITH GRACE. “This is one mother
Janna Bullock, R. Couri Hay and Eugenia Bullock at Janna’s Art Show at 14 E. 82nd Street
Lisa Simonsen at Janna Bullocks’ Art Installation
George Clooney and Stacy Keibler at Le Pur at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome
Oliver, Jonathan, Miles, Nicky and Dana Hammond at Dana’s Birthday Party Harriette Rose Katz and Zoey at the Humane Society of New York
Grace Hightower and Robert De Niro at the ACS Mother of the Year Luncheon
you don’t want to mess with,” said Robert De Niro before he presented his glamorous wife, Grace Hightower, with the American Cancer Society’s Mother of the Year Award. The Raging Bull went on to say, “I noticed Grace was out of the house a lot so I thought she was off having affairs; in reality she was out doing good things to help other women. I’m very proud of her; she’s our Mother of the Year every year.” Grace said, “I want to thank my 13-year-old son Elliot for giving me the courage to have our new three-month-old baby girl Helen Grace at a time most people our age are planning cruises.” Oh hahaha. The other honorees were Dr. Emily Sonnenblick and the alarmingly attractive Dr. Diane Reidy Lagunes who had treated the late writer, actor, painter and bon vivant Roger Webster during his last illness. Roger’s friend Muffie Potter Aston who co-chaired the luncheon presented a heartfelt tribute to the much-cherished Roger who was a long time supporter of the ACS. “My twin daughters adored and loved their ‘Uncle’ Roger and you can’t fool little children. I will miss him dearly forever,” said Muffie. Me too! FYI the chicken at the Plaza Hotel now has the distinction of being the worst cold bird I’ve ever tried to stick a fork into. The day’s best-dressed ladies included charming Tribeca Film Festival founder Jane Rosenthal, Cynthia Lufkin, Donna Karan, Wendy Carduner, Rosenthal Diana Feldman, Anne and Charlotte Ford, Jean Shafiroff, Rachel Roy, Cece Black, Karen Klopp, Paula Zahn and Jennifer Maguire in a chic dress by Kathryn Bohannon. www.cancer.org.
SOCIETY GOES DANCING. New York Times best-selling author and attorney Mark W. Smith gave his annual toast to the Humane Society of New York. www.humanesocietyny.org. Smith and his partners Tim Valliere and Noelle Kowalczyk always find time for their four-legged friends. The love fest was emceed by CNBC’s Mandy Drury and hosted by animal advocates CeCe Cord, Frances Hayward, Sharon Bush, Nancy Silberkleit, Robin Cofer and Leesa Rowland to draw attention to the needs of adoptable pets. www.svlaw.com. HOE DOWN WITH DANA. Over the last decade
Nancy Silberkleit at the Humane Society of New York Vered and Raul Higuera at Vered Gallery
Elaine Sargent and Dr. Leon Root at the New York Philharmonic
Annenberg heiress Dana Hammond has established herself as one of the city’s reigning hostesses. From beach parties in Southampton for her dashing son Oliver to her own birthdays where she’s brought rap stars to Nobu; nobody sane says no to Dana. This year Hammond invited the “400” to celebrate her natal day at a Texas hoedown with all the trimmings including a drag queen dressed as Dolly Parton and the infamous Naked Cowboy who really should not be allowed out of Times Square, except in handcuffs. Guests donned denim, diamonds, Stetsons and boots and line danced their way into the wee hours after