Author Archives: Chuck Gregory

2016 Winter Ball

Monday, March 14
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, NYC

The School of American Ballet (SAB) announces the 2016 Winter Ball at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on Monday, March 14, 2016, sponsored by legendary French jewelry Maison Van Cleef & Arpels for the ninth consecutive year. Cocktails begin at 7pm and dinner will commence at 8pm, followed by The Encore dessert and dancing at 9pm. Attire is black tie. To purchase tickets, a table, or for more information, please contact the Special Events Office at (212) 769-6636.

This glamorous annual dinner dance, presented each winter for the past 12 years, is attended by 500 patrons, including the School’s board members and alumni as well as leaders from the New York corporate and social communities.

A highlight of the evening includes a one-time-only performance by the students of the School of American Ballet choreographed by Peter Walker, who was selected by Peter Martins, Artistic Director and Chairman of Faculty for SAB, for the second consecutive year.

The proceeds from the event enhance every aspect of the School’s extraordinary ballet training program, helping to provide $2 million annually in student scholarships, as well as supporting faculty, maintaining world-class studios and offering vital student programs beyond the classroom.

Famed French jeweler, Van Cleef & Arpels, will again act as the lead corporate sponsor for the gala. This long-standing partnership is a tribute to the friendship shared between SAB founder, George Balanchine, and one of the Van Cleef & Arpels founding brothers, Claude Arpels, who brought the famed French jewelry Maison to New York in 1939. Their shared passion for exceptional stones inspired a creative partnership that resulted in Balanchine’s Jewels ballet and its sumptuous costumes.

The event is led by Chairmen Joyce Giuffra, Julia Koch, Serena Lese and Young Patron Chairmen Noreen Ahmad and Amanda Brotman.

ABOUT SCHOOL OF AMERICAN BALLET
The School of American Ballet, the official training academy of the New York City Ballet, was established in 1934 by legendary choreographer George Balanchine and philanthropist Lincoln Kirstein as the first and most essential step in their quest to create an American classical ballet company.

SAB, located at New York City’s Lincoln Center, is the premier ballet academy in the United States, training more students who go on to become professional dancers than any other school. SAB’s former students fill the ranks of the New York City Ballet and other leading U.S. and international ballet companies.

ABOUT VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Van Cleef & Arpels was born in Paris’ Place Vendôme in 1906, following Alfred Van Cleef’s marriage to Estelle Arpels in 1895. Always striving for excellence, the Maison has become a worldwide reference through its unique designs, its choice of exceptional stones and its virtuoso craftsmanship, offering jewels and timepieces that tell stories and bring enchantment to life. Over the years, the Maison has remained faithful to this highly distinctive style characterized by creativity, refinement and poetry. Whether inspired by nature, couture or the imagination, its collections evoke a timeless world of harmony and beauty.

Peter Walker hails from Fort Myers, Florida, where he began his early dance training at age eight. He attended the School of American Ballet during the 2006 and 2007 Summer Courses and enrolled as a full-time student in the winter of 2007. Peter honed his choreographic skills while still an SAB student by participating in SAB’s annual Student Choreography Workshop; and in 2011, 2012 and 2014, he was selected by Peter Martins to choreograph for SAB’s Summer Course Choreographic Workshop. He was a recipient of SAB’s 2011 Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise and became an apprentice with New York City Ballet. He joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in fall 2012.

This entry was posted in Events and tagged Benefit, Dance, Food, Gala, New York on January 25, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Claudette for Valentine’s Day

Sunday, February 14
Claudette, 24 Fifth Avenue, New York

Reserve at OpenTable

More information at claudettenyc.com

This entry was posted in Events, Restaurants, Trending and tagged Food, New York, Restaurants, Valentine's Day on January 25, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Amida Care

Wednesday, January 27 from 3 to 5 pm
Grand Slam Banquet, 478 E. Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY

Amida Care presents a free community Live Your Life wellness event: ‘Movimiento con Ritmo/ Movement with Rhythm’. Led by the Lorenz Dancers, in this interactive workshop you’ll participate in Latin dance for fun and fitness. Staying healthy is about more than doctor’s visits and taking medication. Amida Care’s Live Your Life wellness program helps our members learn new ways to improve their health…and have fun in the process! Our free monthly member events throughout NYC include healthy cooking, art therapy, meditation, aromatherapy, and African and Latin dance for fun and fitness. This event is free and open to the public. It is made possible in part by support from NYC Council Member Ritchie Torres.

This entry was posted in Events and tagged Free, New York, Workshop on January 25, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Party Pics: Audrey Bernard Tribute

President Obama sends personal regards to Audrey J. Bernard at her Tribute at JALC

By Dedra N. Tate

It was a tribute fit for a Queen and my Godmother Audrey J. Bernard, International Society Columnist and Photo Journalist and the New York Beacon’s esteemed Society Editor, deserved EVERY majestic minute of it!!! Looking regal in a b michael design from his celebrated couture line, the “Always Just Beautiful” tribute/birthday brunch that took place on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 11:30-2:30 was a STELLAR affair. Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC ), Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway at 60^th Street, NYC was set-up beautifully and NO expense was spared in putting this event together!!! Florist to the stars and beyond Saundra Parks of Red Maple Leaf filled the room with Audrey’s favorite flower, Calla Lilies.

The afternoon was full of love, gifts, musical tributes, proclamations, declarations, commendations and libations (compliments of Moet Hennessey USA) in front of 120 of her closest family and friends, who all left with Henri Bendel magazine tote bags FILLED to the top with FAB-U-LOUS gifts that included earphones, charger, candle, and $20 splurge card from Henri Bendel; Bergdorf Goodman/Lancôme gift certificate; chico’s fashion necklace; Ciara CD; Macy’s gift card; and artwork by Mira Gandy !!!

NBC4 News Anchor David Ushery was a true MASTER of Ceremony for this very special tribute/birthday celebration. He kept everyone in stitches as he led us through the jam-packed program that included well wishes and “Congratulations” from President Barack Obama & First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Mayor David N. Dinkins, NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery, and more. While guests enjoyed fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and Bellinis, Mimosas and “The Audrey Martini,” from the stage, her immediate family — Sister Marilyn Mosley, Nephews NYS Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley, III, and Dr. James Jennings Jr. brought everyone to tears with their expressions of love…including a citation from Assemblyman Mosley, as nieces Dr. Janice Carrero Mosley and Sameita Jennings, grandnephew Sebastien Alexander Carrero Mosley and grandniece Allyson Eh-Suk Mosley lovingly looked on.

During the celebratory toast and dessert, the always dapper Congressman Charlie Rangel presented the beaming tributee with a declaration proclaiming December 7th “Audrey J. Bernard Day!!!” She was also presented with an original painting from the original fine art collection of M. Gasby Brown and a beautiful black bag from Henri Bendel’s West 7^th Street Turnlock Satchel collection with her initials inscribed on the front in gold lettering, presented by HB’s Vice President of Marketing, Jessica Dennis who also brought greetings from her boss, Henri Bendel’s CEO Chris Fiore. Entertainment was provided by Alyson Williams who performed a show-stopping Diana Ross medley from “Lady Sings the Blues” (Audrey’s favorite artist) and jazz vocalist Camille Thurman. Vivian Reed led everyone in singing Happy Birthday while presenting her with a cake.

Some of the guests in attendance included Ambassador Suzan “Sujay” Johnson Cook who delivered an inspiring invocation, Reginald “Reggie” Van Lee, Dwayne Ashley, Gasby & Kenneth Brown, Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Alma Rangel, Annette Gibbs, Carole Munroe, La’Verne Perry-Kennedy (who designed the “Always Just Beautiful” artwork), Sandra & Robert Tate, Jeanine Tate, Robbie Tate-Brickle, Katie Jones, Jim & Joanne Skeete, Ruth Sanchez, Susan L. Taylor, Khephra Burns, Sherry B. Bronfman, Jean Wells, Audrey Smaltz, Barbara J. Harris, Ruth Inniss, Veronica Jones, Connie Thomas Staton, Ruth Clark, Sylvia Rhone, Mae Attaway, Vivian Scott Chew, Ray Chew, Harriet Michel, Jeanne Parnell, Carmen Barnes, Karu F. Daniels, Wilson Morales, Diane Clear, Steve Manning, Pat Stevenson, Ruth Clark, Robin Verges, Ruth D. Hunt, Winnie & Mapple Walker, Cynthia Horner, Patricia Hinds, Candice Jacko, Vanessa DeLuca, Sheila Harris, Dana Baxter, Cynthia Horner & Ken Harris, Irene Gandy, Mira Gandy, Thomasine Barton-Gangadean and from the New York Beacon — Walter & Miatta Haj Smith, Don Thomas, Edna Sarr, and Audrey Adams.

There was even a video tribute sent in from Walt Disney World Public Relations team; a special message from Disney’s first African American doll, Princess Tiana; and greetings from Disney Dreamer’s Academy representative Mikki Taylor; followed by a special presentation by two of Disney’s top executives Annette Gibbs and Carol Munroe who presented her with a limited edition Princess Tiana basket filled with Disney treasures and their coveted “Mouscar” award which is their equivalent of the “Oscar!”

Then it was Audreytime. Ravishing from head to toe, the radiant tributee thoughtfully thanked the event’s Presenting Sponsors Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Reginald Van Lee Foundation and The Gasby Group, Inc; Contributing Sponsors (Henri Bendel New York, NBC4-New York, Moet Hennessy USA, Red Maple Leaf, The Williams Capital Group, Viacom, chico’s, Epic, Harlem Skin & Laser Clinic, William Wolf and Lancome Cosmetics); her guests; and gave HUGE KUDOS to Event Chairs Reginald Van Lee, Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton’s Washington DC location where he leads the firm’s commercial business, and JALC Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis; Co-Chairs Dwayne Ashley, Vice President of Development at JALC, and M. Gasby Greely Brown, CEO, The Gasby Group, Inc.; Guest Chefs Melba Wilson, Melba’s Restaurant, and Norma Jean Darden, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, for the delicious menu; and the FAB-U-LOUS host committee with special mention to JALC’s Divya Kantamneni, La’Verne Perry Kennedy, Rachel Noerdlinger, Robin Verges and Diane Thompson whose generous b’day gift to her friend was roving photographer Tone Fleming who captured precious guest moments throughout the event and presented the photos to each guest. No one wanted to go home so JALC’s top executive Dwayne Ashley extended the fun and invited guests to join him at the spotless steak restaurant Porter House on the 4^th floor of the luxurious Time-Life Building. And a merry good time was had by all! (Photos by Tone Fleming)

This entry was posted in Parties and tagged New York, Party Pics on January 25, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Party Pics: Diademas Cigar Party

Care for a extremely rare $600 stogie on your way to the next best thing?

You’ll find it, among other cigar rituals, at the most posh address for the discerning aficionado:

The Diademas Cigar Lounge at the H-Hotel in Dubai.

Named after an extremely rare, and sought after Cuban blend, The Diademas Cigar, the lounge is the newest addition to the burgeoning cigar scene in Dubai.

However, be forewarned, this Lounge is not for a beginner or a cigar wanna-be.

But first more about the Diademas, as explained to us by the F&B Manager of the H Hotel, Matthew Randall:

“Wrapped in the trappings of heraldry, a Diademas cigar comes individually coated in their own aluminum armour. Some seek these cigar simply for their knightly guise but the Diademas are an enticing Figurado with a complex and multi faceted smoke,” he says.

“The blend of the bunch stabs out herbaceous tendencies and then parries these with slashes of mocha, coffee and caramel,” adds the suave Brit. “Tending to the Diademas bawdy variations in the burn will take advanced smoking skill so make sure you know how refined your skills are!

The cigars are no longer in smoking circulation and hence rare. Randall found a way to Buy this on Amazon and the moment he saw them he knew he had hit a pot of gold and endless cigar destiny. He bought as many he could lay his hands on and they are now displayed for sale with pride at the Lounge.

If you would like to smoke one of his very few Diademas’ (pictured here) it will put you back a mere $600USD.

And last week, to celebrate the lounge and post-Holiday stress, his bar manager, the effable Vasco Edgar (seen in the pictures cocktailing) invited a group of cigar aficionados to a cigar party replete with a cigar roller (a female one at that!) at a prix-fixe bash featuring libations and a hand rolled Cuban.

There are many cigar lounges in Dubai but none that takes itself more seriously than this one. The pace is relaxed, but the attention to detail, quite unimaginably, is right down to the the last puff.

There are no “cigar sommeliers” or bartenders or servers with a Cuban degree and recitation here, but a staff of two extremely dedicated, and vigilant, Vasco and Mahesh, that work in tandem like a chef and his lieutenants except nobody is barking orders.

The focus, unlike other cigar venues in Dubai, is not to rush you a bar tab billed to your room, but rather let the smoke take you places you have been before and want to return over and over again.

The Lounge plans to open a members club with regular events and parties so that once the ash is settled you are ready to puff away to glory, so let cigar bygones be bygones and enjoy your next stogie here.

Vasco and Mahesh will be there when you cross the cigar shores.

This entry was posted in Hotels, Parties and tagged Cigars, Dubai, Party Pics on January 20, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Eataly Truffle

Eataly celebrates truffle season with launch of new ‘Truffle Restaurant’

Fine food lovers of the UAE welcomed to sample truffle dishes at Eataly’s newly opened ‘Truffle Restaurant’

Eataly, the popular authentic Italian restaurant and market located on the ground floor of Dubai Mall, launches a Truffle Restaurant, dedicated to discovering the Umbrian white truffle, which comes into season in November.

Partnering with Urbani Tartufi, one of the most prestigious truffle distributors in the world, Eataly’s permanent Truffle Restaurant will bring the best selection of white truffles to fine food lovers in Dubai.

Chef Hadi El Awar of Eataly comments: “Truffle season is upon us and we are very excited to launch Eataly’s new permanent Truffle Restaurant in celebration of this beautiful ingredient. As part of this, we are delighted to welcome three of Italy’s most celebrated master chefs as part of the Italian Cuisine World Summit to cook these delicacies and show to our guest’s how to bring out the sublime flavor of the truffles we have available.”

Special truffle dishes available from Eataly’s Truffle Restaurant menu include:

Uova In Camicia Al Tartufo Bianco – Italian organic poached eggs on a bed of homemade rustic bread and fontina, cream topped with shaved truffles

The artisan bread supplier is a retail and wholesale baking company offering a wide selection of traditionally made bread, pastries, pies, and cakes.

Pizza Al Tartufo Bianco – fresh white asparagus, mozzarella cheese, parmigiano reggiano, organic egg topped with shaved truffles

Tagliolini Al Tartufo Bianco E Pane Croccante – fresh egg tagliolini served with sage sauce and aromatic breadcrumbs, topped with shaved truffles

Risotto Al Tartufo Bianco – gallo risotto served with parmigiano salsa and shaved white truffles.

About Eataly

The idea behind Eataly is very simple: to gather a variety of high-quality Italian foods under one roof where people can eat, shop and learn. As an original “marketplace”, Eataly invites customers to be active participants in an innovative tasting experience, as they move between sections savoring the high quality traditional Italian foods, beverages, produce and artisanal products on offer, or try new dishes and products from Eataly’s regularly changing regional highlights.

Since its inception in 2002, when the first store opened in Turin after five years of research and planning, Eataly has been inspired by sustainability, responsibility and sharing. Its commitment to bringing the best quality produce from all corners of Italy, results in a network of over 2,000 small suppliers. Promising choice, accessibility and knowledge, Eataly affords any lover of Italian food a place in which to enjoy, savour and discover.

Eataly is operated by the The Azadea Group, a premier fashion and lifestyle retail company that owns and operates more than 55 leading international franchise concepts in fashion and accessories, food and beverage, home furnishings, sporting goods and multimedia across the Middle East and Africa spread across 13 countries overseeing more than 600 stores. For more information on Eataly and The Azadea Group visit http://www.azadea.com.

This entry was posted in Restaurants, Trending and tagged Dubai, Food, Restaurants on January 13, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

The Expats Club

Dubai is home, albeit temporarily, to more than 200 nationalities from around the globe, and that slow-burning melting pot marinates day after day in a desert-like formation only to converge at the doorstep of Darshan (Raj) Bijur (Blue shirt, blue suit in picture above).

That’s because Raj runs a socially efficient human networking platform that is coveted by both single- and job-weary expats from pretty much anywhere in the world who happen to land at Dubai’s doorstep in search of the next big whatever.

This why they call Raj the “Prince of Networking “ in Dubai. To know Raj is to know the who’s who of Dubai when it comes to landing the next job, the next relationship, the all-in-one socio-business juxtaposition.

His group is called The Expats Club (http://www.theexpatsclub.net) and he is an affable yet charming social promoter of the highest order who throws more than 60 social and business networking events a year in and around hoite poite restaurants and venues all across Dubai.

Raj has been at it for 2.5 years throwing the expat get-togethers and bringing people together.

“People have forgotten how to connect,” says Raj holding a glass of wine and eyeing the room at a recent bash he hosted that we attended recently in Dubai. “There is such a huge potential for social lubrication” he says referring to today’s society at large living in dotcom glass houses serving domain name bubbles to each other.

Raj helps people whether they have just moved to Dubai, or are in between relationships, or even in between jobs, and invites them to his events and holds no judgments or regrets when they come.

“I don’t care what someone’s social status is when they attend my parties,” says Raj. “People in expat situations need company no matter what. They could be married, they could be single.”

A financial consultant by day, Raj has helped countless professionals around the world by inviting them to his parties and arming them with a name badge and nudging them out of their social cocoons to put their best hand forward and smile upon the room.

Some of the people we surveyed at the party were shy. Some were nervous. Some hadn’t really been to a networking event so didn’t know what to expect. And some that were looking for the next job didn’t want to be seen at the event!

In a hour or so after a round or two of wine (included in the entry fee) people had started to shed their inhibitions and began to warm up to the idea of pressing flesh in melted handshakes as Raj subtly guided the room from one end of the majestic bar to the other, but often to leave most of the attendees to fend for themselves.

The Expats Club is a membership-based organization and people join when they search for events on the web for Dubai, or through world of mouth. It isn’t suffocating by any means. Raj diligently responds to all membership inquiries, takes phone calls and emails at all odd hours, and is social-media savvy and posts events and updates on Facebook and LinkedIn quite frequently to keep his flock in the know.

You really don’t have to know anybody to go and once you are there you just let the evening do the talking.

Some of the activities that The Expats Club organizes include:

Cocktails, music and dance functions
Brunches, lunches, dinners and wine tasting
Theatre, cinema and music performances
Cruises, Safaris and amusement park trips
Diving, yoga, camping and trekking
Group holidays

His network currently exists in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, London (that’s where he is from but an Indian by ancestry), Singapore and Hong Kong.

Raj’s next big adventure is a Valentine’s Day Bash he has planned for Valentine’s Day Feb. 12 at an undisclosed venue (the details are only disclosed to paying members who register) through a YouTube teaser:

Membership to The Expat Club is open but costs 300 Dirhams ($80USD) a year for Men and 200 ($55USD) Dirhams a year for women and when one someone joins, they always get a discounted rate to each event he throws so that more than makes up for the membership dues.

You can pay hundreds of Dirhams in a lobby bar in Dubai and meet people from around the world. Dubai is after all the most connected and well-oiled upscale supermarket of the world where anything can be had and achieved at any time and at price.

But Raj’s efforts, and his parties, are priceless.

This entry was posted in Trending and tagged Abu Dhabi, Clubs, Dubai on January 12, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Vii Dubai

The Vii Club, a luxurious, modern and elegant nightclub, features exotic mahogany wood-finished walls, deep plum furniture, bespoke designed DJ booths, dance floor, VIP areas and a signature wall made of gold coins. The venue can accommodate 500 party connoisseurs who will all be easily enchanted by the eclectic mix of commercial dance music courtesy of DJs who guarantee the party is pumping till late. Guests can also watch out for surprise celebrity guest performers who are bound to stir the night into an even more electrifying direction. Dubai’s most sought-after mixologists will also be taking over the bar serving an endless and exotic array of signature drinks to ensure guests can pick their perfect poison. The Vii Club is open every Thursday and Friday from 10:30pm to 3:00am.

Vii Dubai, the city’s newest terrace bar and lounge, is located in the Conrad Hotel Sheikh Zayed Road. Tucked away on the seventh floor of the hotel, Vii Dubai is where the urban sky meets an unspoilt lush garden. The journey to discovering this hidden gem starts through a spectacular lounge, and an artfully crafted tunnel walk which eventually unveils what can only be described as a plush garden filled with all things green and radiant. Spread across 4,000 square feet, Vii Dubai can comfortably accommodate 250 people all invited to drink and done al fresco.

See more on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/VIIDubai/

This entry was posted in Hotels, Restaurants, Trending and tagged Cocktails, Dubai, Food, Restaurants on January 8, 2016 by Chuck Gregory.

Party Pics: A Date with Dubai 2015

With this year’s event on the horizon, let’s look back at last year!

On January 16, 2015 was held “A Gala Day in Dubai” with Golf and Tennis in the Morning, Boat Cruise with Culture which is made in boats from lauderdaleboatrentals.net, and also Open Business Bar in the Afternoon, Arabian Gala Night with Entertainment in the Evening.