A gala is just a gala, some say, but not WNET.ORG's June 16th Gala Salute at The Plaza. This gala had a remake of "Casablanca," featuring the president of WNET.ORG looking Bogart-esque in a fedora and trench coat.
WNET.ORG's president, Neal Shapiro, in his feature film debut.
The film premiered on the big screens in The Plaza Grand Ballroom. Mr. Shapiro's mission: to tell Rick Blaine, Ilsa Lund, and Victor Laszlo about the latest developments on New York public television (including WNET and WLIW). Some highlights: a new daily magazine called MetroFocus, which will use a new studio at Lincoln Center; an upcoming doc from Ken Burns on baseball, and plans to bring "the next generation of great plays back to television."
After bidding two of his new friends goodbye at the airport, Mr. Shapiro says he has "one last thing to do, one of the hardest things to ask anyone.
"You know lots of people who'd support us, could you set up some meetings for me?" he asks.
"Round up the usual suspects," replies the mustached policeman Captain Renault.
Clockwise from top left: Anna Maria Kellen and WNET.ORG's president, Neal Shapiro; BNY Mellon President Gerald Hassell, dinner chair Cheryl Milstein, and WNET.ORG chairman James Tisch; Bill Moyers, longtime public television host; and the team anchoring WNET.ORG's new public affairs show "Need to Know," Jon Meacham (editor of Newsweek) and Alison Stewart.
When the lights went up, the ballroom filled with laughter and applause; it was clear that WNET.ORG had rounded up some of those usual suspects. Among them: Lewis Cullman, James and Ellen Marcus, and Patricia and Phlip Laskawy.
Paul and Jody Arnhold; Edith and Philippe de Montebello (one year shy of their 50th wedding anniversary)
Dinner chairs were Waheed Alli, Barbara and Ray Dalio, Cheryl and Philip Milstein, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Merryl and James Tisch, and Natasha and Dirk Ziff. On-screen talents attending included Steve Adubato, Conseulo Mack, Rafael Pi Roman, and Laura Savini. The event raised $3 million. Oh, and did I mention the dinner menu?
The meal for the gala toasted the start of summer with Lime Cured Rock Shrimp served with Watermelon, Feta, Candied Jalapeno, and Cilantro. For the main course, there was Filet of Beef with a Cabernet sauce and Pan-Roasted Figs, accompanied by Asparagus and Dancing Ewe's Blue Potato Gratin; others had Seared Salmon with Pea Shoots on a Bed of Sauteed Vegetables. The sweet ending: Peach Upside Down Cake with Ruby Sipper Ice Cream and Candied Violets.
At an auction, two guests bought the privilege of having dinner with Charlie Rose; each paid $35,000 for their own private meal time.
The Bank of New York Mellon was honored for its generous support. The bank's president, Gerald Hassell, accepted the award.
The impromptu "Need to Know" set, where gala news was delivered with aplomb; Mary Libby; interviewer par excellence, Charlie Rose.
From the stage, Mr. Shapiro gave a "shout out" to Bill Moyers, who recently ended his public affairs program, "Bill Moyers Journal," which ran on Friday evenings.
Jon Meacham, one of the hosts of the show that fills Mr. Moyers's slot, added, "I grew up watching Bill Moyers. It was great to hear someone who sounded like yourself, growing up in Tennessee."
Mr. Meacham and Alison Stewart hosted the anchor's desk on the stage of the ballroom, a "debut" of sorts, as the co-hosts of the new public affairs program "Need to Know." They had an informal banter that included Mr. Meacham's praise for the dessert. "Isn't that ice cream great?" he said.
Photo credit: Amanda Gordon
Amanda Gordon, best known as the New York Sun's society columnist, is a freelance writer and photographer. CPS Events at The Plaza hired Amanda to chronicle events at The Plaza. She can be reached at amanda.gordon@rocketmail.com.