FashionEtc.com November 23rd, 2024

“The world is too much with us.” But from the 44th floor of the Norman Foster–designed glass-and-steel gazebo that houses the Hearst Corporation, it lay glittering at one’s feet as some hundred business and civic leaders gathered to celebrate “The Life and Art of James Baldwin.”

The hosts, vice chairman and CEO of the Hearst Corporation Frank Bennack and his wife, Dr. Mary Lake Polan, also underwrote the American Library’s release of Baldwin’s collected writings. Mr. Bennack works close to heaven in that glorious tower. Now he’s assured himself and his wife a permanent place within the pearly gates for helping to preserve a cultural legacy.

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On March 3, the American Cancer Society presented its annual Mothers of the Year Awards at a luncheon at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

This year's honorees were Dr. Freya Schnabel and Muffie Potter Aston. The ballroom was filled with fans of both women. I don't know Dr. Schnabel personally, but from what I understood from Patti Hansen, who presented her with the award, she is nothing short of a saint.

Hansen spoke earnestly about her own battle with breast cancer, and how Dr. Schnabel's patience, encouragement and wisdom had helped her through. The two women have become friends, and Hansen even spoke about Dr. Schnabel's love "of my husband's music"—she's referring to the great Keith Richards.

I do know Muffie personally, and I know this: Muffie deserves an award every day of the year for all the things she does. She is a strong, intelligent, organized do-gooder, multitasking her way through life and letting nothing fall through the cracks.

Whether it's helping an organization (ACS, Memorial Sloan Kettering, the Alzheimer's Association, and many others she's been involved with over the years), a business associate, or a friend in need, Muffie always steps up to the plate. Her most formidable achievement to date has been as a mother to twin girls Ashleigh and Bracie, and as a wife to Sherrell—"the loves of my life," as she puts it.

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We thought we could finally pack away the tux for a while after Sunday’s Academy Awards capped the long awards season, but nope, the very next day, showbiz types turned out in New York for the Museum of the Moving Image salute to Alec Baldwin.

Richard Gere and Carey Lowell, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, Edie Falco, Amy Ryan, Mariska Hargitay, and Jimmy Fallon were among those praising Baldwin—and also cracking jokes about him.

“When they called and said, ‘Would you come and do this thing?’ I thought about it, and first of all, I had to remember who he actually was,” said Michael Keaton, who co-starred with Baldwin in 1988’s Beetlejuice. “I was a little bit unclear, I just couldn’t quite remember, uh, Alex Baldwick.”

Baldwin has famously hosted Saturday Night Live 15 times, and SNL producer Lorne Michaels noted his achievements: “[Alec] is the only Baldwin brother about whom no one has ever asked: Which one is he?”

Michaels also said that despite Baldwin’s reputation for being difficult to work with, he has never seen any evidence of it over the years. “Although I should say I don’t make it to the set very often,” he added. “But whenever I get a chance to see the show, it looks to me like they all get along.”

One of the funniest people in television, Tina Fey, made no jokes at Baldwin’s expense and instead gave a beautiful, heartfelt speech praising her 30 Rock co-star as a writer’s dream and an American treasure.

“He’s very humble, and he’s very skilled, and those are a nice combination,” Fey told us earlier in the evening.

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Gratitude: You can find it in the most unlikely situations.

At the Happythankyoumoreplease screening sponsored by the Cinema Society and Tommy Hilfiger, Josh Radnor—the film's gorgeous and charming writer, director and star—introduced his uplifting, poignant movie about people's lives not turning out quite the way they expected and their turning points around age 30.

"I always thought if I did anything right in this movie it was to surround myself with the right people, the greatest people you can hope to share a screen with," he said. "The movie is about gratitude. I didn't know that when I was writing it."

Not one person that I spoke to disagreed. The general consensus upon leaving the theater was that this is an adorable, feel-good movie, well worth seeing. We were all grateful to have been there.

At the after-party at the now legendary 18th floor at the Standard, guests sipped Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi wines, nibbled cheeseburgers and cheese balls (the only ones in the room), and admired the breathtaking views.

Celebrities including Carey Mulligan, Ed Westwick, Adrian Grenier, John Mayer, and Gabourey Sidibe came to congratulate the cast and crew, who were still having dinner when we arrived.

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