Hilaria Yoga, Mnuchin; Fischl on Tennis, Caro: Scene
The yoga mat is gaining traction as a fundraising tool in the Hamptons.
A private yoga session with Hilaria Baldwin went for $10,000 at Guild Hall’s benefit on Aug. 10, auctioned by her husband, Alec, to hedge-fund-manager-turned-entrepreneur Nick Lobaccaro. (The package also included a night with Alec Baldwin in his box at Guild Hall’s theater.)
On Aug. 24, Hilaria Baldwin will lead a class to benefit the Child Mind Institute Inc., organized by the Southampton- based studio Yoga Gives. Tickets are $250, which goes to the institute to improve mental-health care for children. Baldwin is once again donating her services.
Yoga Gives has organized several similar events alongside its for-profit offerings. Kelly Morris, a popular instructor in New York, led one to benefit the Retreat, an East Hampton shelter for victims of domestic violence. Heather Mnuchin, whose husband, Steven T. Mnuchin, runs OneWest Bank Group LLC, went to the mat for the Sag Harbor Food Pantry.
Mnuchin has also taken classes, along with Julia Koch, wife of David H. Koch of Koch Industries Inc., and Christine Mack, wife of Richard Mack, North American chief executive officer of Apollo Real Estate Advisors.
“To me it’s a natural pairing,” said Amanda Taylor, founder of Yoga Gives. “The idea of yoga is to be of service, to be present to other people, to be aware, awake and alive.”
Taylor got the idea after hearing about the one-hour SoulCycle spin class that raised more than $35,000 for Baby Buggy.
“If they can do that with bikes, I thought, I can do that with yoga mats,” she said.
Gala Alternative
Taylor sees the classes as a welcome alternative to the evening gala. They’re certainly cheaper: Yoga Gives has been charging $50 a class or less.
“A woman can say, ‘I don’t have to buy a dress, book a baby sitter, drag my husband -- this is just a part of my day,’” Taylor said.
Like last season, the studio is open for six weeks through Labor Day. Next year Taylor hopes to open for the whole summer.
Eric Fischl
The galleries at the cultural center Guild Hall in East Hampton are currently filled with paintings of beach scenes by Eric Fischl, who lives year-round in Sag Harbor.
The artist himself is no beach bum.
“I’ve only been to the beach twice this summer,” said Fischl at the opening of the exhibition on Aug. 11. “I tend to play tennis and work.”
These pursuits have a lot in common, according to Fischl. “Tennis and painting are very similar to each other,” he said. “They both take place inside a rectangle and use an extended reach. It’s all about intention and execution. It’s all about gesture and force of gesture.”
Robert Caro
With so many of his thick books stacked in front of him, Robert Caro almost had to stand up to see the fans greeting him at the East Hampton Library’s trade-show-cum-literary-cocktail- party.
Caro was one of more than 120 authors who participated in the library’s eighth annual Authors Night, which raised more than $200,000.
The affair was a significant upgrade, with a larger tent (the same used by Guild Hall for its benefit the night before) and much better food from local purveyors including Lucy’s Whey.
Dick Cavett, Robert K. Massie, author of a biography of Catherine the Great, Kati Marton and Patty Farmer, author of “The Persian Room Presents: An Oral History of New York’s Most Magical Night Spot,” were among the signers.
(Amanda Gordon is a writer and photographer for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are her own.)
To contact the reporter on this story: Amanda Gordon in New York at agordon01@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net
Guild Hall
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Hilaria Baldwin reacts to her husband's antics as an auctioneer, which included sweetening one package by throwing in a yoga lesson taught by her.
Hilaria Baldwin reacts to her husband's antics as an auctioneer, which included sweetening one package by throwing in a yoga lesson taught by her. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Guild Hall
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Alec Baldwin and Paddle 8 auctioneer Alexander Gilkes gathering bids.
Alec Baldwin and Paddle 8 auctioneer Alexander Gilkes gathering bids. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Guild Hall
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Patricia Lobaccaro and Nick Lobaccaro after his successful $10,000 bid for a yoga lesson with Hilaria Baldwin plus two tickets to sit with Alec Baldwin in his box at the Guild Hall theater.
Patricia Lobaccaro and Nick Lobaccaro after his successful $10,000 bid for a yoga lesson with Hilaria Baldwin plus two tickets to sit with Alec Baldwin in his box at the Guild Hall theater. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Yoga Gives
Yoga Gives via Bloomberg
Amanda Taylor, founder of Yoga Gives.
Amanda Taylor, founder of Yoga Gives. Source: Yoga Gives via Bloomberg
Guild Hall
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
In the Eric Fischl exhibition.
In the Eric Fischl exhibition. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Guild Hall
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Eric Fischl at the Guild Hall benefit, which celebrated his career and the opening of his exhibition at Guild Hall.
Eric Fischl at the Guild Hall benefit, which celebrated his career and the opening of his exhibition at Guild Hall. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Guild Hall
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Gary Adamek and Ruth Appelhof, executive director of Guild Hall of East Hampton.
Gary Adamek and Ruth Appelhof, executive director of Guild Hall of East Hampton. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
East Hampton Library
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robert Caro and his hefty books greeted a fan. That's Dick Cavett on the right.
Robert Caro and his hefty books greeted a fan. That's Dick Cavett on the right. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
East Hampton Library
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Kati Marton signs a copy of her new book "Paris: A Love Story." She'll read from the book at Hampton Library in Bridgehampton on Friday, August 17 at 5 p.m.
Kati Marton signs a copy of her new book "Paris: A Love Story." She'll read from the book at Hampton Library in Bridgehampton on Friday, August 17 at 5 p.m. Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
East Hampton Library
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Patty Farmer, author of "The Persian Room Presents: An Oral History of New York's Most Magical Night Spot."
Patty Farmer, author of "The Persian Room Presents: An Oral History of New York's Most Magical Night Spot." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
East Hampton Library
Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Robert K. Massie signs a copy of his book "Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman."
Robert K. Massie signs a copy of his book "Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman." Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
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