Scene Last Night: Dubin, Bacon, Clinton, Elmo, Hockney
“It’s like a reunion,” said John Baldessari, wearing a black vest and shirt.
The Madison Square Park Conservancy held a benefit last night at Manhattan’s Prince George Ballroom to support its Mad. Sq. Art program and drew a slew of artists, from David Hockney to Claes Oldenburg.
Also on hand was Richard Koshalek, director of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C., and its chairman, James Tomilson Hill, vice chairman at Blackstone Group LP. (BX)
Philip Glass performed “Metamorphosis No. 2” as part of a tribute to Martin Friedman, a former director of the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, who helped bring sculpture to Madison Square Park. Friedman wore a telescope on a string around his neck -- all the better to see friends.
Park Man
Glenn Dubin, chief executive, chairman and co-founder of hedge fund Highbridge Capital Management LLC, is a New York City park man.
As a boy growing up in Washington Heights, Dubin played basketball in Fort Tryon Park on weekends.
“I’d be there from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., then hit the sprinklers to cool off and go home,” Dubin said.
These days Dubin and his family live near Central Park, where he said his 15-year-old son plays pickup hoops.
Dad’s given up on basketball (as well as football, which he played at John F. Kennedy Jr. High School and Stony Brook University).
Bike Ride
“I’m too old for that,” said the 55-year-old. “But I do ride my bike through Hudson River Park.”
That’s where Dubin was May 29 -- in suit and tie, no bicycle -- as the honoree at the Hudson River Park Spring Gala. The event raised $1.6 million (four times the amount raised last year) for the five-mile stretch of waterfront on Manhattan’s lower west side.
Kayakers paddled around Pier 26, the still-under- construction site that served as party headquarters.
“I’d like to go kayaking right now,” Dubin said as he greeted Louis Moore Bacon, founder and CEO of hedge fund Moore Capital Management LLC, whose chief operating officer, Scott M. Lawin, is on the board of Friends of Hudson River Park.
Entertainment included finger spins by members of the Harlem Wizards basketball team.
Clinton Street
At the Sesame Workshop Annual Gala Wednesday, former U.S. President Bill Clinton had a contest at his table to name characters from the public-television show “Sesame Street.”
“I got Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird,” Clinton said on the stage of Cipriani 42nd Street. “I could not remember the coolest name of them all: Snuffleupagus. Now, I do want Republicans to know I was not being prejudiced because he’s an elephant.”
Clinton was being honored, along with United Healthcare Group.
Later, the Muppets, including Lily from Sesame Workshop’s co-production in China and Filfil from the co-production in Egypt, performed the classic “Sing,” helping the nonprofit raise $2 million.
Horton’s Kids
At Nationals Park in Washington, Screech, the Nationals’ eagle mascot, hung out at a fundraiser for Horton’s Kids, which provides tutoring and mentoring to children living in the Anacostia neighborhood. Erik Franklin, a Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) federal solutions specialist, brought his daughters Grace and Caroline for batting practice. The May 30 event raised $300,000.
That night was also a family affair for Liana Kuturov, who brought her mother and grandmother to the Hebrew Free Loan Society benefit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Lower Manhattan. Kuturov is a recipient of an interest-free loan from the society, which she said is helping her pay the $40,000 tuition bill at St. John’s University. Gary Gladstein of Soros Fund Management LLC and Edward Karan of Citibank Private Bank are on the organization’s board.
(Amanda Gordon and Stephanie Green are writers and photographers for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are their own.)
To contact the reporters on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @amandagordon; Stephanie Green in Washington at sgreen57@bloomberg.net or on Twitter @stephlgreen.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net
Madison Square Park Conservancy
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
James Tomilson Hill, Blackstone Group vice chairman and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden chairman; Richard Koshalek, director of the Hirshhorn; Betty Koshalek; and the artist David Hockney.
James Tomilson Hill, Blackstone Group vice chairman and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden chairman; Richard Koshalek, director of the Hirshhorn; Betty Koshalek; and the artist David Hockney. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Madison Square Park Conservancy
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Architect and designer Frank Gehry and artist Claes Oldenburg.
Architect and designer Frank Gehry and artist Claes Oldenburg. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Madison Square Park Conservancy
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Artists John Baldessari, Chuck Close and Lawrence Weiner.
Artists John Baldessari, Chuck Close and Lawrence Weiner. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Madison Square Park Conservancy
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Martin Friedman, former director of the Walker Art Center and adviser to the Mad. Sq. Art committee, which brings sculpture to Madison Square Park in New York.
Martin Friedman, former director of the Walker Art Center and adviser to the Mad. Sq. Art committee, which brings sculpture to Madison Square Park in New York. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Madison Square Park Conservancy
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Danny Meyer, president, CEO and founder, Union Square Hospitality Group, whose Shake Shack brings crowds to Madison Square Park. The company also presents the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, a benefit for the Madison Square Park Conservancy, which this year takes place on June 9 and 10.
Danny Meyer, president, CEO and founder, Union Square Hospitality Group, whose Shake Shack brings crowds to Madison Square Park. The company also presents the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, a benefit for the Madison Square Park Conservancy, which this year takes place on June 9 and 10. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Friends of Hudson River Park
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Glenn Dubin, chairman, CEO and co-founder, Highbridge Capital Management, and Louis Bacon, CEO and founder of Moore Capital Management.
Glenn Dubin, chairman, CEO and co-founder, Highbridge Capital Management, and Louis Bacon, CEO and founder of Moore Capital Management. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Friends of Hudson River Park
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
James Frey, literary entrepreneur, Christy Turlington, model, and filmmaker Ed Burns said they use Hudson River Park daily.
James Frey, literary entrepreneur, Christy Turlington, model, and filmmaker Ed Burns said they use Hudson River Park daily. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Friends of Hudson River Park
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Ann Colley, a foundation executive, and Michael Novogratz, principal at Fortress Investment Group.
Ann Colley, a foundation executive, and Michael Novogratz, principal at Fortress Investment Group. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Friends of Hudson River Park
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Scott M. Lawin, chief operating officer, Moore Capital Management, and Mia Jung, regional sales director at Biotronik.
Scott M. Lawin, chief operating officer, Moore Capital Management, and Mia Jung, regional sales director at Biotronik. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Friends of Hudson River Park
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Eva Dubin, a physician at NBC, and broadcaster Gayle King, who emceed the gala.
Eva Dubin, a physician at NBC, and broadcaster Gayle King, who emceed the gala. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Sesame Workshop
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Bill Clinton, Sesame Workshop gala honoree, with H. Melvin Ming, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, and Joan Ganz Cooney, co-founder of Sesame Workshop.
Bill Clinton, Sesame Workshop gala honoree, with H. Melvin Ming, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop, and Joan Ganz Cooney, co-founder of Sesame Workshop. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Sesame Workshop
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Vincent Mai, chairman, AEA Investors LP and chairman, Sesame Workshop.
Vincent Mai, chairman, AEA Investors LP and chairman, Sesame Workshop. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Sesame Workshop
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
The Sesame Street crew led a sing-along of "Sing."
The Sesame Street crew led a sing-along of "Sing." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Horton's Kids
Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia Democrat, and Screech, the mascot of the Washington Nationals.
Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia Democrat, and Screech, the mascot of the Washington Nationals. Photographer: Stephanie Green/Bloomberg
Hebrew Free Loan Society
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Liana Kuturov, a student at St. John's University, and her mother, Izabela Inoyatova, a registered nurse and care manager at Elmhurst Hospital.
Liana Kuturov, a student at St. John's University, and her mother, Izabela Inoyatova, a registered nurse and care manager at Elmhurst Hospital. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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