The 2011 Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Gala

November 21, 2011

The 2011 Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Gala

Last Wednesday evening, I hosted the fourth annual gala for the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai. As in past years, the gala was held in the spacious and beautifully decorated clerestory at our offices in the Starrett Lehigh building in Manhattan. At the Martha Stewart Center for Living, we are revolutionizing the way we care for older adults. We want to extend not just the life span, but also the health span, so that old age can continue to be a rewarding and productive life stage.

As an honor at the gala, we have established the Living Award. With this award, we seek to recognize an individual over the age of 65 who continues to have a positive impact on the public good, not just despite their age but also because of the wisdom and experience that comes with it. This year’s honoree was the legendary Clive Davis, who has helped to shape the modern music industry into what it is today. I share with you these photos of the gala.

Part of the gala was an auction with proceeds benefiting the Center. Many items are available to bid on here until November 30th.

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1 This was the speakers' podium at the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mount Sinai Fourth Annual Gala.

2 The tables were set in keeping with the Center for Living’s signature color of green.

3 Green accent lights set the mood.

4 This fabulous installation was designed by one of the talented staffers on our Weddings magazine, Erin Furey, and the artist Wade Kavanaugh. All of the materials were donated by 'I Love Lucite' (310-966-0740).

5 We took the Center for Living’s signature color, green, and introduced a little CD-like flash, in honor of tonight’s music industry honoree.

6 Setting up the bar area

7 Pom Wonderful donated the juice for the Pomtinis, as well as the arils, or pomegranate seeds for garnish.

8 The Pomtini is made with pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, and vodka and is garnished with pomegranate arils.

9 The food for the gala was from restaurateur extraordinaire Danny Meyer’s Hudson Yards. Here I am with Chef Michael Romano and Danny Meyer.

10 Hors d'oeuvres for the evening included endive leaves topped with salmon.

11 And seared lamb on a wafer

12 And steak frites - tender beef served on a crispy potato chip

13 And also fig topped with prosciutto mousse and pistachio

14 A great photo of Susan Magrino

15 Carole and Ralph Robbins of SavATree, my arborists

16 With newlyweds Geri and Charles Koppelman

17 With Naomi De Manana, Erin Furey, and Jean Graham

18 Joaquin, an adorable Cocker Spaniel one of the volunteers in the Center's Pet Therapy Program, comforts our patients while they are waiting for their doctor. His human companion is Diane Maguire.

19 Dr. Audrey Chun - Assistant Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine

20 This amazing gentleman, Bert, is a 100-year-old patient at the Center for Living! He came with his daughter, Patti.

21 With Martha Stewart Weddings' Darcy Miller (in the great gold necklace), Joan Solotar (in striped skirt) and friends

22 The PetSmart crowd

23 With Marco Maccioni, whose family owns Le Cirque

24 Posing with Betty Wright Landreth and Jim Lebenthal

25 With Jim Budman - photographer/entrepreneur

26 With Stephen Shwarzman - co-founder of the Blackstone Group

27 My friends Douglas Newhouse and Holly Banister

28 NY1 reporter, Budd Mishkin, interviewing Clive

29 With Barbara Davis - philanthropist

30 Margaret Chan and husband, Dr. Albert Siu - the Ellen and Howard Katz Professor and Chairman of the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

31 The guest of honor for the evening was the legendary Clive Davis, a Grammy winner and major figure in the music industry.

32 Posing with Clive Davis and Denise Rich - songwriter, socialite, philanthropist, and political fundraiser

33 With my PR team - Jeanne Meyer, John Weiss, Nicole Sutliff, Susan Magrino, and Kelly Galvin

34 Alina Cho - national correspondent for CNN as well as a contributor to American Morning on CNN/US and her mother, Kim

35 My friends Alan and Debbie Grubman - Alan is an entertainment lawyer.

36 Clive Davis and Matt Lauer greeting each other

37 Clive being asked what's on his holiday playlist

38 Sitting down for dinner

39 First course - Pan-Roasted Hen-of-the-Woods Mushrooms with Sorrel and Sweet Onion, Smoked North County Bacon and Fromage Blanc, served with Sullivan Street Bakery Breads and Vermont creamery butter

40 The entrée - Pan-Seared Wild Striped Bass with Hazelnut-Meyer Lemon Beurre Fondue and an Autumn Vegetable Ragoût

41 Dessert - Malted Mousse with Milk Chocolate Sorbet and Sea Salt, Flourless Chocolate Cake and Crisp Rice

42 There was also an assortment of French macarons and chocolates for each table to share.

43 After welcoming our guests and after speaking a bit about the Center for Living, I was pleased to introduce the Center's Dr. Albert Siu.

44 Dr. Albert Siu read a touching letter from a patient about how the Center for Living enriches lives.

45 Center for Living's, Dr. Audrey Chun, presented me with quotes from patients at the center. My favorite is 'Meditate, eat good foods, and live a life of purpose. Don't get fat.' Emiliano, 84

46 Our auctioneer was Tash Perrin, Senior Vice President at Christie’s, where she is the head of the estates, appraisals and valuations department. Here she is egging on bidders during the auction.

47 A trip for 4 to the Martha Stewart show, including lunch in the greenroom and being in a special segment with Martha on the show, started a bidding war.

48 Pitch three songs to Clive Davis in NYC was very popular.

49 There was also a silent auction.

50 A Tory Burch bag set was a hot item.

51 Dinner in the private room at the exquisite En Japanese Brasserie

52 Founder's Favorite Holiday Gift Box from Harry & David—Royal Riviera Pears, apples, cheese, pepper and onion relish, Moose Munch snack, truffles, cookies and more, plus a signed copy of Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts cookbook.

53 An elegant diamond pendant from Kwiat's Contorno Collection—18k white gold with .51 carats

54 A six week internship at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

55 Clive with the group from North Shore LIJ Health System

56 Dr. Audrey Chun was interviewed by Alice Park, Health and Wellness Editor from Time Magazine.

57 Ben Martin of Isilon and Steve Rollins, VP of Corporate Technology at MSLO

58 With Nikki Haskel - diet advisor and Art Garfunkel - singer-songwriter

59 With friends Mary Tedesco and Muffin Dowdle

60 Introducing Clive - I was thrilled to honor Clive with our Living Award and I thanked him for being such a wonderful example of healthy, active living—and for filling our lives with music!