Times Square Gossip

Ben Rodriguez-Cubenas With Jackie Weld Drake And Hunt Slonem   Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education brought its annual Fiesta! Gala back to The Plaza Hotel with Chairs Jackie Weld Drake, Jean Shafiroff, and HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, where longtime friends, artists, philanthropists, and supporters gathered to celebrate the organization’s 92nd anniversary.  The sold-out benefit raised the most to-date, and honored artist Hunt Slonem, philanthropist Sonia Gutt deHaime, and Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, who received the Jackie Weld Drake Living Legend Award.   Hunt Slonem, recognized for his exuberant paintings of bunnies and butterflies was celebrated not only for his extraordinary career (with work displayed at The Met, Guggenheim, Whitney, and more), but for the spirit of creativity he shares with Casita Maria's mission. “For the last 35 years I have attended and supported this Gala and Casita Maria,” said he, “as a child, I wanted to be an artist due to the ...

  Henry Buhl Richard O'Connor With Gail Martin And Jim Martin Southampton’s summer social calendar welcomed one of its most meaningful philanthropic gatherings on Saturday as community leaders, longtime supporters and Hamptons residents came together at Whitefield on Hill Street for the ACE Sunflower Benefit, an evening dedicated to raising awareness and support for ACE Programs for the Homeless while recognizing the decades-long commitment of philanthropist Henry Buhl.  The day opened with a lively pickleball tournament before guests gathered for cocktails, dinner and live music in the historic setting, creating an atmosphere that balanced summer celebration with a shared commitment to helping New Yorkers rebuild their lives through meaningful employment, job training and ongoing support services. Throughout the evening, the focus remained firmly on ACE’s mission of creating pathways toward long-term economic independence for individuals who have experienced homelessness, inc...

  CeCe Black With Ruth Miller And Ann Van Ness Maribel Lieberman With Sylvia Hemingway Carolyn Maloney With Nicole Miller, Kobi Halperin, Jean Shafiroff, Alex Hamer And Julia Haart    Jean Shafiroff celebrated France’s national holiday by hosting her annual Bastille Day luncheon at Maison Barnes in New York City, bringing together approximately 50 guests from the worlds of philanthropy, fashion, society, and culture. The elegant afternoon unfolded over a gourmet luncheon prepared by the Daniel Boulud culinary team, offering guests a taste of French hospitality in recognition of the historic holiday. French flags, spirited conversation and a shared appreciation for French culture set the tone for a gathering that has become one of Jean Shafiroff’s annual summer traditions. Bastille Day, observed annually on July 14th, commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris in 1789, a defining moment of the French Revolution. The event came to symbolize the fall of absolu...

  Marina Cocher Bergés Marina St Barth, the luxury resort wear brand founded by Marina Cocher Bergés, welcomed guests to its new Southampton boutique over Memorial Day weekend for a celebration marking both the start of the Hamptons summer season and the brand’s 20th anniversary. Located at 54 Jobs Lane, the Southampton boutique brings Marina St Barth’s signature sense of island elegance, casual glamour and bohemian chic to one of the East End’s most iconic shopping destinations. The gathering offered guests a first look at the brand’s curated world of resort wear, accessories and statement pieces designed for sun-drenched days, coastal evenings, travel, entertaining and life on the move. Maribel Lieberman   Donna Rubin The celebration also honored a milestone year for Marina Cocher Bergés, whose brand has grown over two decades from a deeply personal vision into a destination for women seeking effortless pieces with distinction, color, texture and a global point of view. With...

  Maribel Lieberman Petra Schneebaur With Silvia Frieser The Viennese Opera Ball celebrated its 70th anniversary at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City with “A Magical Night, a Fairy Masquerade Ball,” transforming the evening into a masquerade ball for the very first time while commemorating 270 years of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Inspired by Mozart’s beloved opera The Magic Flute, the evening transported guests into a world of mystery and enchantment, celebrating Austrian cultural heritage through the elegance, pageantry, and romance long associated with the storied event. Held under the auspices of the U.S. Austrian Chamber of Commerce. President and Executive Director Silvia Frieser, Artistic Director Daniel Serafin and Ambassador of Austria to the United States H.E. Petra Schneebauer, the gala also recognized the 250th anniversary of the United States, celebrating the longstanding friendship and close ties between Austria and America.   A highlight of the evening was ...

  Antonella Bertello As Women’s History Month is celebrated each March, it offers a timely reminder that the story of progress is often written by women whose vision, resilience and leadership transform industries, elevate communities and inspire the next generation. Across hospitality, fashion, art, philanthropy, publishing and entrepreneurship, women continue to lead with imagination and purpose, proving that success is most powerful when it creates opportunity for others. This season, a standout group of women are being recognized for the singular way each has helped shape her field. Together, they represent a dynamic cross section of accomplishment, from hoteliers and boutique owners to gallerists, founders, philanthropists and cultural connectors, all united by innovation, tenacity and the ability to turn personal vision into public impact. Antonella Bertello  In hospitality, Antonella Bertello continues to define elevated East End living through The Baker House 1650, the...

  Charlii Sebunya With Mirabel Lieberman Mariebelle New York welcomed the fall season with an elegant celebration at its flagship SoHo location, inviting guests to savor the new Fall Chocolate Collection inspired by the rich colors, scents, and sensations of the season. Set against the backdrop of the brand’s signature blue-and-gold salon, the evening captured the artistry and refinement that has made Mariebelle synonymous with luxury chocolate for over two decades. Guests sampled chocolates and had the chance to catch up while savoring each piece, hand-made with the brand’s distinctive designs. From the aroma of freshly poured hot chocolate to the music playing through the cocoa-scented air, the soirée embodied the warmth and sophistication of fall in New York. Attendees from the worlds of art, design, and fashion gathered to toast the new collection and enjoy conversation over cups of Mariebelle’s signature Aztec Hot Chocolate and decadent petits fours. “Chocolate has always been...

  Jean Shafiroff Cynthia McFadden With Henry Buhl The Association of Community Employment Programs for the Homeless (ACE) and its founder Henry Buhl welcomed guests to the 2025 annual Dream Gala at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City. The evening raised critical funds to support ACE’s programs that provide job readiness training, work experience, and long-term support services to help New Yorkers overcome homelessness and reclaim independence.   Maribel Lieberman Patrick McMullan With Barbara Winston And David Patrick Columbia The evening began with cocktails, followed by dinner and a program hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Cynthia McFadden. This year’s Honorees were Henry Hay and Andrew Torrey, recognized for their leadership and commitment to creating opportunities for vulnerable communities. Guests were also reated to a special musical performance by Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Jennifer Holliday, best known as the original “Dream Girl.” The Alex Donn...

  Jean Shafiroff Philanthropist, author and Television host Jean Shafiroff hosted a reception at her New York home to honor the upcoming 28th Collaborating for a Cure event benefitting the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) ) on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025. The event will be a celebration of scientific breakthroughs, will serve as the official announcement of the launch of the new Samuel Waxman Institute for Aging & Cancer and will honor Jean Shafiroff, Robert Wiener and Jeffrey Settleman PhD.  The private event brought together numerous supporters and friends of both Jean and the Foundation to toast the organization’s nearly 50-year commitment to funding crucial research that has facilitated many important discoveries to prevent and better treat cancer.    Jean Shafiroff With Martin Shafiroff Maribel Lieberman With Dennis Basso & Lucia Hwong Gordon  Dr. Samuel Waxman and Jean Shafiroff received citations from NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Se...

  Leesa Rowland Actress, author, and philanthropist Leesa Rowland hosted an afternoon celebration at Marina St. Barth in Southampton in honor of her new cover in Mann About Town. The occasion also marked an unofficial kickoff to the 2025 Hamptons summer season. Known for her presence on screen and in society circles, Rowland is also the founder of Animal Ashram, a nonprofit supporting animal welfare. Her effervescent spirit and signature style were on full display as she greeted guests and posed with her magazine cover. Jean Shafiroff Pamela Morgan With locations in both Southampton and East Hampton, as well as Florida and online at her website, the Marina St. Barth boutique is a beacon of resort chic—an extension of the lifestyle Marina Cocher, founder, brought with her from the French Caribbean Island of St. Barthélemy. This season, Marina St. Barth has a fresh edit of must-have pieces from iconic and emerging designers, tailored for beachside brunches, sunset soirées, and everyt...

  Denise Rich Viennese Opera Ball In a celebration of culture, tradition, and timeless music, the 69th Annual Viennese Opera Ball returned to Cipriani 42nd Street, for one of the most spectacular evenings in New York’s social calendar. This year’s gala held resonance, commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Johann Strauss II, the “Waltz King”. Co-Chaired by Jean Shafiroff and Denise Rich, this year’s Ball benefited Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, and the music therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, continuing the event’s legacy of supporting charitable causes through the arts. The evening opened with the presentation of debutantes and their escorts choreographed by Sandra Stockmayer from Svabek Dance School Vienna, followed by a ballet performance featuring Christine Shevchenko, Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, joined by young dancers from the Rock School of Dance and members of the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), with th...