Susan Magrino's 20th Anniversary Celebration and the High Line Spring Benefit
I have been going nonstop lately bouncing from one event to the next. On Tuesday, after sitting through meeting after meeting at my offices in New York City, my evening began at the restaurant Alison Eighteen, where my publicist, Susan Magrino, was celebrating her 20th anniversary of her company, the Susan Magrino Agency. Susan and her hard-working team manage a very impressive list of clients and I certainly appreciate all that they’ve done for me over the years. I then dashed to Hudson River Park’s Pier 57 for the 2012 High Line Spring Benefit. The High Line is an elevated public promenade, built upon an historic freight rail line on Manhattan’s West Side. This park is a fabulous place to escape and it offers unusual views of the area. My grandchildren, Jude and Truman, enjoy strolling along it every day.
1 Here I am with sisters Allyn and Susan Magrino.
2 A photo with Greg Blatt - CEO of IAC - In the past, Greg was a general counsel of MSLO.
3 A very nice group shot of Alison Price Becker, Samantha Schabel, Nicole Sutliff, Allyn, me, Susan, and Kelly Galvin before going off to attend my next event.
4 My next event, a benefit for the High Line, that wonderful public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Approaching the High Line - One sees amazing old architecture in the Meatpacking District.
5 This pedestrian bridge was erected by the National Biscuit Company in the early part of the 20th century to join its facility on the south side of W. 15th street with its offices on the north side of the street.
6 Once industrial, this neighborhood surrounding the High Line has drastically changed, now boasting high-end apartments, restaurants, and clothing stores where factories, packing plants, and slaughterhouses once stood.
7 The High Line is owned by the City of New York and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line, which works tirelessly to raise the essential private funds to keep the High Line operating.
8 The High Line runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. This lovely elevated promenade has naturalized plantings inspired by the self-seeded wild plants that were growing the abandoned railway.
9 Built in the 1930s, the High Line was part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement and lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district.
10 The High Line history states that between 1851 and 1929, so many accidents occurred between freight trains and street-level traffic that 10th Avenue became known as Death Avenue. For safety, men on horses, called the West Side Cowboys, rode in front of trains waving red flags.
11 Open in 1934, the 13-mile-long High Line eliminated 105 street-level railroad crossings and connected directly to factories and warehouses, allowing trains to roll right inside those buildings. The streets became much safer.
12 During the 1950s, growth of interstate trucking led to a drop in rail traffic, nationally and on the High Line. In the 1960s, the southernmost section of the High Line was demolished.
13 No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the rest of this historic structure was under threat of demolition.
14 This very interesting building right near the High Line, the IAC Building, is a Frank Gehry design and is the world headquarters for InterActiveCorp, Barry Diller’s media and Internet empire.
15 Frank Gehry's fanciful design is quite pleasing to look at in a city known for its towering, parallel lines.
16 One more look at the High Line and the IAC Building
17 The 2012 High Line Spring Benefit was held at Hudson River Park's Pier 57 on the West Side Highway at 15th Street, just south of the Chelsea Pier golf driving range.
18 Pier 57 is listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. There are plans to turn this space into an innovative hub of cultural, recreational, and public market activities. For now, it's used as a venue for various events.
19 Of course, the paparazzi!
20 In honor of the High Line, the pier was decorated to look like a park.
21 More than 1,100 people attended the Spring Benefit.
22 Attendees included publicist Peggy Siegal and Bergdorf Goodman's Linda Fargo.
23 Dinner was served family style upon yellow covered tables that were decorated with succulents and bromeliads.
24 I sat across from my good friend, plantsman Dan Hinkley and Coco Kopelman
25 Many choices were brought to the table including lobster & crab salad, slow braised short ribs, wild mushroom lasagne, roasted fingerling potatoes, and this spring vegetable pot pie.
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Martha...you are like 'run around Sue'...off and running to many events. I love how very attractively fresh you look in your white outfit...a very nice choice!
Posted by: Sherey | May 3rd, 2012 at 12:38 am
LIVING is same here as in NYC and we think of High Line as northernmost railroad line from Culbertson to Havre Montana. Hopefully the big sky and vast prairies wil be enjoyed driving hwy 2 and riding Empire Builder with family many more times. Thanks for pictures of these events and you look lovely.
Posted by: ann | May 3rd, 2012 at 2:26 am
Congratulations to Susan Magrino and her company on it's 20th anniversary! How striking you look in white Martha while surrounded by others wearing black in pic#3. Thanks for the info on the High Line. I have seen stories about it on tv and always thought what a wonderful idea to turn the freight line into a park. Thanks for sharing your life Martha!
Posted by: Cindy F | May 3rd, 2012 at 7:46 am
Hi Martha, You certainly have been very busy attending meetings at your office and many events in NYC and up and down the east coast all the way to Washington, D.C.! WOW! You must be really tired, but you look fantastic wearing beautiful dresses along the way! Susan Magrino sure looks happy at her 20 year anniversary of her company and being with you for 20 years is terrific! I recall a blog a while ago about that great High Line public park on the west side of Manhattan and it is a great, safe place for Jude and Truman to enjoy even when they both start walking around a lot! Once again you gave me memories because when I was a teacher south of Seattle, I worked at the Highline School District for about 30+ years-love the name! I am still praying everyday that Francesca and Sharkey are getting better! I truly love them and GK!!! Hope you have a great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 3rd, 2012 at 10:09 am
Hi Martha,
It seems you either filmed a segment on the Highline or showed us a lot of pictures on your show. For some reason, I can only remember that you walked it and gave us a nice visual. I know you blogged about a dinner there which happened June 3, 2009 before the first section was to open. I just read that blog again. The Friends of the Highline saved a most fantastic landmark and I think everyone in New York should contribute to maintaining it. When you first mentioned it, I couldn’t imagine a railroad line being turned into something so beautiful but it is and I think it would be such an adventure to walk the promenade. I am sure it is really beautiful in the spring and summer.
~
Congratulations to Susan Magrino on the 20th anniversary of her company. I feel like I know her since I’ve been hearing her name and seeing her by your side for the last 12 years that I’ve been avidly following you. I even have her wedding on VHS. Great job Susan and company with Martha and MSLO! Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 3rd, 2012 at 10:17 am
Martha,
Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | May 3rd, 2012 at 11:21 am
I love so much that you share all of your adventure with us. I always learn something. It's so much fun too! I would never have attended any of these events and here we get an "insiders" view.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: stephanie | May 3rd, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Martha...how do you do it...jumping from one affair to another...you look gorgeous, as usual..my daughter couldn't,t believe your age...good luck on PBS, looking forward to it. You are everything
I would have liked to have been. You have given me many inspirations and for that I am thankful for. Heywhat did you do with that yellow rain coat and matching umbrella?
Posted by: Marie Christensen | May 4th, 2012 at 3:13 pm
Made your deep dish pizza and took it to Lauren's school today 4 lunch. Love the sea foam green/blue bedroom idea w grey mix; beautiful! Have a fabulous weekend. Krista/Lauren Moms MS Network http://www.facebook.com/momsMSNet
Posted by: Krista M. Milne | May 4th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Hello Martha,
I think you are an amazing woman - I just don't know how you accomplish so much.
Posted by: marcella johnston | May 7th, 2012 at 11:38 am
Martha you look Great as Alway's! What Designer Are you wearing??And Best to you on your up coming show on PBS!:-) Hope to see you in Maine This Summer.
Posted by: Darlene Martinez | May 7th, 2012 at 6:53 pm