By Dee Richard
The holiday party season is in full swing. The ones we were able to get to this week were all great in their own way. In the event that “great” is too strong a descriptive adjective, they were at least interesting.
The Alley Pond Environmental Center had its party at Terrace on the Park, which was beautifully decorated for the holiday season. It was listed as the “2011 Green Gala.”
It had two honorees. Kenneth D. Daly, the president of National Grid New York. He received the Corporate Friend of the Environment Award. The Green Leadership Award was presented to Cas Holloway, the city’s deputy mayor for operations.
It was a lovely party with many Queens movers and shakers in attendance, including Borough President Helen Marshall, former state Sen. Frank Padavan and City Councilman Jim Gennaro. One of the interesting young guests was Rebecca Lynch, Judge Bernice Siegal’s daughter.
Congratulations to Rebecca, as she has just been admitted to the state bar. Her date for the evening was Nicholas Roloson, the chief of Staff to state Assemblyman Michael Miller. Small world, isn’t it? Congratulations, Rebecca!
TRIBCO Corp. held its annual holiday party at Douglaston Manor, which was also decorated beautifully for the holidays. Some of its guests were District Attorney Dick Brown, David and Mark Weprin, Dan Halloran, Gary Ackerman and Jimmy Van Bramer. These were just a few of the elected officials who were guests and managed to stop in at one time or another during the course of the evening.
The Jefferson Democratic Club selected the Club House, at the Clearview Golf Club, as the site of its holiday soirée. The place was packed and everyone was in a party mood.
Mimi Burnham sat next to me at the bar, and while we shared a holiday drink together informed me that she and Cheryl Cummings, her longtime partner of more than 15 years, were married 11/11/11 at 11 a.m. The presiding judge at the ceremony was Bernice Siegal. Again, more small-world stuff. The reception was held at the Battery Gardens in downtown Manhattan.
Mimi said they had bought an apartment in the Cryder House and both are busy as can be renovating the place. Good luck, ladies, and I hope you have a long and happy life together.
In my estimation, first prize for the best party of the week has to go to Joe Crowley for his holiday bash at the Queens Hall of Science at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The roster at that party was more than quite impressive: Chuck Schumer, Claire Shulman, Nettie Mayersohn, Dick Brown, John Liu, Jimmy Van Bramer, Vito Lopez, Grace Meng, Danny Dromm, Mike Reich, Christine Quinn, Karen Koslowitz, Toby Stavisky, Debbie Markell, Matt Silverstein, David Weprin, Mike Niebauer and the list went on and on. We hated to leave that party, as it was really jumping, but we had to toddle off to the next one.
Our last stop Sunday evening was the Bayside Historical Society’s annual holiday season party held at the old Officers Club in Fort Totten. It has one of the most beautiful Christmas trees, which is more than 30 feet tall and decorated within an inch of its life. Just looking at it puts you in a holiday spirit.
There were three honorees this year: Mark Boccia, of the Bourbon Street Cafe; Domenick Bruccoleri, of Papazzio Restaurant; and Helen McDaniel, a member of the Bayside Historical Society.
One of my favorite chanteuses, Alexandra Dunne, gave a special performance for the entertainment of all the guests. Alexandra is also a longtime Bayside Historical Society trustee.
Alexandra, if you remember, sang “Unforgettable” to Padavan at his celebration party last December at Leonard’s of Great Neck. That party was held to thank Frank for his 38 years of service to his constituents. Her rendition helped make it an unforgettable event. I was proud to have had the honor of hosting the party. It is hard to believe it was a year ago.
That’s it for this week.
I look forward to your voice mails at 718-767-6484, faxes at 718-746-0066 and e-mails at deerrichard@aol.com.
Till next week, Dee.
