myNYHamptons

LIVE OUT LOUD 4th ANNUAL PRIDE IN THE HAMPTONS FUNDRAISER, Saturday, June 23, 2012 Cocktails & Hors d'ouevres from 6:00pm-8:30pm; Dinner & Dancing from 8:30pm-10:30pm

HOT FUN! 

Summer in the Hamptons!

As Memorial Day Weekend fast approaches, the Hamptons is gearing up for a Spectacular Summer Season of Charity Fundraisers, Cocktail Parties, Celebrity Sightings, Fashionistas, Fitness Gurus, Dancing in the Moonlight, Celebrated Art Auctions and Fine Dining from some of the best Chef/Caterers in the Universe... though it's a rare event that combines ALL of these elements into one Spectacular Evening!

The 4th Annual Live Out Loud Pride in the Hamptons Fundraiser will do just that... Starting with a beautiful setting at the private Waterfront Residence of Bruce T. Sloane, the Event is set against the backdrop of an unparalleled sunset over Northwest Harbor in East Hampton. Guests will be Dancing in the Sunset as it turns to Moonlight while enjoying Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres by Restivo Events.

A Silent Auction, with a strong focus on the Arts, will include: paintings, portrait commissions and fine art photography, as well as Objects d'Arte and fine home furnishings, fashions from Ralph Lauren, vacation getaways, gift baskets and more... 

This event brings together an eclectic, fashionable, diversified, creative and dynamic group of more than 300 Captains of their Industries in Business, Entertainment, the Arts, Politics, Real Estate, Community and Culture, all of whom are committed to Live Out Loud's mission of empowering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth by providing scholarships, after-school programming, role models and leadership opportunities for them to realize their potentials in pursuing their dreams.

Current Event Sponsors include: Rolls Royce, Evan Greenberg and Patrick Mills of Core Realty, Communispond, The Toussi Company, Michael's of Maidstone, Bruce T. Sloane, Selma and Leon Sloane and Douglas C. Petri.

The Event's Honorary Host Committee comprises: Charles Busch, Clodagh, Ari Gold, Judy Gold, Julie Halston, Stewart Lane & Bonnie Comley, Lisa Lampanelli, Reichen Lehmkuhl, Jack Larson & Peter Olsen, Terrance McNally & Tom Kirdahy, Raphael Miranda, Hal Rubenstein

 Julie Keyes and Joan Kraisky-Knigin will be Co-Chairing the Silent Auction Arts Committee.

Chair: Bruce T. Sloane

The Host Committee includes: Birnam Wood Gallery, Peter Chase & Dan Robinson, Patrick Christiano, Mitch Drazin & Phillippe Brugere-Trelat, Lisa Freedman, Anthony Gatto & Dan Mason, Evan Greenberg, Barry Gordin, Dr. Ray Gualtieri & Tim Kofahl, Tom House, Vidur Kapur & Joel Gervis, Ray Lord III, Patrick C. R. Mills, Douglas C. Petri, Tony Piazza & Steve Gugliotti, Leo Preziosi, Jr., Carl Reddish, Hector Rojas, Zev Rosenthal & Jerry Gebo, Ian Siegel & Steve Slykhuis and Vered & Janet Lehr

Media Sponsors: GO Magazine, MetroSource, TheaterLife.com. 

Last year, there was much to celebrate at Live Out Loud’s 3rd Annual Pride in the Hamptons Event. In addition to raising over $70,000, news of the passage of the same-sex marriage law in New York buzzed amongst guests with more than one couple declaring plans to wed in the future. This year, we will be celebrating the 1st year anniversary of the bill passing, as well as the nuptials that followed among many couples within the community. 

Additionally, for the cost of an upgraded ticket, Guests may stay and enjoy a sumptuous 3-course buffet dinner catered by Michael's of Maidstone of East Hampton, with entree selections including: lemon chicken, shrimp scampi and pulled pork. There will be limited seating for the dinner, so guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

The Live Out Loud Pride in the Hamptons 4th Annual Fundraiser 

The Waterfront Home of Bruce T. Sloane

21 N Bay Lane, East Hampton, New York   11937

Saturday, June 23rd 2012

6:00-8:30pm  Cocktails & Hors d'oeuvres

8:30-10:30pm  Dinner & Dancing

Live Out Loud Website

This is the second year I have had the pleasure of working with this organization on this amazing event. Last year I wrote about how I got involved in my blog post entitled: The 3rd Annual Live Out Loud Pride in the Hamptons Event

  

2012 marks an important turning point for Live Out Loud, as they team up with international advertising agency Deutsch, A Lowe & Partners Company to launch a national PSA campaign on one of our their most innovative programs, The Homecoming Project. Some of the best creative minds in advertising are working on this campaign, and the results will have members of the LGBT community talking across the country. This campaign will enable Live Out Loud to reach out to more LGBT role models than ever before. As a result, thousands of LGBT youth will be empowered by the stories they hear from out, successful members of the community. 

 

 

The Homecoming Project - is a nationwide campaign that sends LGBT role models back to their high schools to speak to the next generation of youth. Homecoming project speakers expose students to the endless possibilities and hopes for the future. In the past year, Live Out Loud has had 18 participants return to high schools in 12 states, including: Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and Oregon. This is a more than 100% increase from the last 4 years combined! As the Homecoming Project continues to grow, so does Live Out Loud's ability to inspire LGBT youth to live the life of their dreams.

 

Other Projects include:

• Scholarships - Every year, Live Out Loud rewards hardworking LGBT students with scholarships that help make their college dreams a reality
• Behind the Scenes - connects youth with professional LGBT- affinity groups at major corporations. This unique program allows LGBT youth to meet LGBT professionals who can help them see the support offered to LGBT employees in many corporations. 'Behind the Scenes' has developed relationships with Google, The New York Times and NBC.

• School Programs - partnerships with student groups across NYC

    

For more information about Live Out Loud, please visit their website at: Live Out Loud and Facebook Page: Live Out Loud on Facebook

 

All of these programs require financial support, which brings us back to our Fundraising Events.... Live Out Loud puts the FUN in their Charity Fundraisers for guests of all ages and at all stages of their lives to enjoy! In fact, guests under 27 years of age may enjoy a special discounted rate for General Admission at the door with proper identification.

 

To Purchase Tickets for the Event: http://www.liveoutloud.info/wp/events/4th-annual-pride-in-the-hamptons-fundraiser/#tickets 

 

Can't make it to the Event?

There are so many other ways for you to lend your support:

 

 1. Become a Sponsor
 2. Make a Donation
 3. Donate an item to the Silent Auction
 4. Join the Speaker's Bureau 
 5. Spread the Word
 6. Join one of the Organizing Committees
 7. Attend the Meetings
 8. Volunteer

 9. Become a Facebook Fan
10. Let us know your own ideas, or share your own experiences that may seem appropriate to our needs.

 

Still have questions? Please don't hesitate to contact me at: lisa@theartmarketer.com. 

 

Once again, I am proud to be a part of this effort, and hope you join us in reaching our goals this year! We promise to make it a good time, with good fun, attracting a great crowd, entertainment, food & wine, as we join our individual efforts to collectively make a difference in this cause!  
 
On behalf of all the kids our efforts benefit, we thank-you from the bottom of our hearts, and look forward to working with you! 
 
 
Sincerely,
Lisa Freedman

 

  

Michaels' Maidstone Bar & Restaurant, East Hampton, NY

 

Someone recently asked me what my favorite Hamptons restaurant was.

 As it happened we were seated together for a Dinner Party at Michaels' Maidstone Bar & Restaurant in the Springs section of East Hampton, New York celebrating our mutual friends milestone Birthday. Still, I paused to consider the countless award-winning restaurants in this fabled area before answering with all sincerity I'd have to say it's this one. Michaels' Maidstone Bar & Restaurant is unpretentious and inviting, warm and hospitable, serving world-class food with a wine menu to match. They treat their guests as they would family. The food is consistently first-rate and given the quality of the menu, the value is equally impressive.  Staff is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, with owners Luis and Virginia there every night to greet their guests and oversee operations.

Michaels Maidstone Bar & Restaurant had become our go-to restuarant ever since the friend whose party we were at had introduced it to me. It is the restaurant I bring my own guests in the Hamptons to and the restaurant I frequent with the Birthday Boy and his partner. I continue to marvel at how creative their menus become to meet every occasion they come upon, including my friend's Birthday Celebration, as well as the manner in which they rise to every occasion, be it a Holiday Celebration, intimate family dinner, gathering of friends or party of 75 as we were experiencing that evening.  My newfound friends were impressed with my answer, and as we each devoured our meals, I sensed Michaels' Maidstone Bar & Restaurant would quickly become their own favorite as well. 

Michaels' Maidstone Bar & Restaurant Chef/Owner Luis continues to come up with creative ideas to keep his customers coming back. Besides an eclectic regular menu, Michaels' offers a 3-course Prixe Fix menu that is equally world-class in quality and value. Portions are usually generous enough for me to end up taking home a doggie bag to enjoy the next day. For those just wanting a lively bar scene among a friendly mix of locals and weekenders, there is a Happy Hour with delicious appetizers served up with your favorite drinks. It's not unusual to see those coming for Happy Hour stay through the evening making new friends among the regulars as they soon become regulars themselves. 

Others are able to describe their experience with more panache than I. Take a look at some of the reviews I found on TripAdvisor and you will soon see what I do - that this off-the-beaten-track Hamptons Hideaway is a real treasure you will be glad you've taken that beaten path to find, for all the reasons folks started coming here more than 37 years ago. Before the glitzy urban restaurateurs started taking over the area, Michaels' was serving up good food in a cozy environment to an appreciative local crowd at great value. The newest owners have brought that tradition to a modern world in exceeding the expectations of some of the toughest customers I know.

TripAdvisor Restaurant Review

This month, Michaels' gives you even more reason to try it out. As we all prepare to say good-bye to winter, Michaels' offers its March into Spring promotion. Throughout the entire month, guests may enjoy a Food & Wine Festival with a 3-course dinner for $30. That same 3-course dinner with 3 glasses of wine is priced at $45.00. Selections run the range of classics taken from their usual menu. These include Scallion Ginger Crusted Yellow Fin Tuna; Braised New Zealand Lamb Shank; Grass Fed NY Strip Steak; Chicken Kiev or Wild Mushroom & Fontini Cheese Ravioli with a Dessert Menu to match: Mango Mousse Cake; Maple & Ginger Creme Brule; Cinnamon Rice Pudding and Caramel & Granny Smith Apple Tart.

Start that delectable meal off with any one of the following appetizers: Red Curry & Lemon Grass Steamed Mussels, Fire Roasted Gulf Prawns; Polenta Lasagne; Hearts of Palm Salad or Corn & Crab Pancakes. Enjoy each of your three courses with a different recommended wine for each course.

My mouth is watering as I write this. You can guess where I will be this weekend! 

Reservations are strongly recommended.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.michaelsofmaidstone.com/

and Facebook page: Michaels' on Facebook

Tell them Lisa sent you! 

Michaels' Maidstone Bar & Restaurant

28 Maidstone Park Road, East Hampton, NY 11937

631-324-3002 or 631-324-0725

HOURS: Open at 5pm daily for Dinner

Mon-Thu: 5-10pm

Fri-Sat: 5-11pm

Sun: 5-9pm

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown

Two years ago I left my home of 25 years in Westchester County, New York to move two hours away to the East End of Long Island. And while I haven't looked back at that choice since, I still make frequent trips back to Westchester to re-connect with all I've left behind: my family and friends, the shopping, movies, theater, parks, restaurants and traditions my son and I have enjoyed throughout his lifetime.  

Where I am unable to stay with family and friends, especially during the hectic Holiday Season, my go-to Hotel is the DoubleTree in Tarrytown. In fact, I almost look for excuses not to stay with family as I love staying at the DoubleTree that much more! 

The DoubleTree rises up above the majestic Hudson River on a hillside conveniently located just off the Tappan Zee Bridge and I-87 and I-287. About fifteen minutes away from the Westchester County Airport, and twenty-five minutes north of NYC and LaGuardia International Airport, this freshly renovated property offers country ambiance, friendly service, a world-class restaurant and catering division and all the amenities any visitor to the area could ask for. Whether there for business or personal reasons, The DoubleTree has everything you could want for any occassion and is conveniently located near anything else you would need to be close to within the area. 

Features at the Doubletree:

• 24,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet facilities including a magnificent Grand Ballroom, state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, creative catering services, and a professional staff to anticipate your needs.
• Natural elements of wood, regional stone and slate, water and fire, on 11 acres of landscaped grounds in the heart of the Hudson River Valley, New York.
• Spacious Tarrytown hotel guestrooms and suites that boast a long list of guest amenities including generous work surfaces and luxurious Sweet Dreams® beds.
• Full use of the indoor heated swimming pool, steam room in men's locker room and sauna in women's locker room.
• Newly renovated, well equipped Fitness Center by Precor®.
• Wired and wireless high-speed Internet access is available in all of the guest rooms and public space for a charge of $4.95 per day.
• Complimentary coffee or tea by celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck.
• Stylish "Bistro Z" restaurant, serving American and regional cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
• Complimentary Business Center provides everything needed to remain productive on the road.
• On-site Glatt Kosher Kitchen and catering specialist.
• A fresh, warm and delicious Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookie at check-in.
• Nearby jogging paths and golf.

 

Doubletree Hotel Highlights: 

• All 247 guest rooms feature flat-screen TV's.
• Just 22 miles from New York City, 25 minutes from LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), 40 minutes from JFK Airport (JFK), and minutes from Westchester County Airport (HPN).
• 24,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with Glatt Kosher Kitchen and on-site Kosher catering specialist.
• Centrally located in the Business Corridor of Westchester County right off I-287 and I-87.
• Wired and wireless high-speed Internet access is available in all of the guest rooms and public space for a charge of $4.95 per day.

Doubletree Tarrytown Hotel Neighborhood:

• Nestled in New York's Hudson River Valley, famous for historic sites: Kykuit - the Rockefeller Estate, Sunnyside, Philipsburg Manor and Lyndhurst Mansion.
• Located conveniently to major companies including: Kraft, Dannon, Siemens, Bayer, Coca-Cola, Hitachi and IBM.
• Convenient to the upscale Westchester Mall.
• Minutes away from Westchester County Airport (HPN) and twenty-five minutes fromLaGuardia International Airport (LGA).
• Close proximity to Pace University, Fordham University, Manhattanville College, Mercy College and Purchase College.
• Minutes from I-87 and I-287.

Whether business, vacation, or a weekend getaway brings you to the Tarrytown, NY hotel in Westchester County, the DoubleTree's courteous and helpful hotel staff looks forward to welcoming you with their signature, warm chocolate chip cookie at check-in. 

AAA Hotel Diamond Rating:    
Hilton HHonors Reward Category: 4

Amenities         

Guest Accommodations 

Every one of the fully renovated guestrooms and suites, that was distinctly designed by the McClusky Design Group out of New York City, features extensive amenities such as: high-speed wired and wireless internet access for $4.95 with 24-hou access, complimentay coffee, The Signature Doubletree Sweet Dream® Bedding, flat screen television, 2 dual line telephones with speakers, coffee maker, hairdryer, iron and ironing board.

Some of the guestrooms also have balconies and terraces overlooking the sumptuous park like setting interior courtyard. I have personally imagined, been a guest at and observed any number of occasions taking full advantage of the luxurious hotel facilities for: memorable weddings, engagement parties, anniversaries, birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, family reunions, corporate meetings, holiday extravaganzas and more. 

I have also enjoyed the use of the hotel Fitness Center (bigger and more comprehensive than most), swimming pool, women's locker room and sauna as well as the Business Center. And I have enjoyed many a leisurely breakfast buffet and brunch with family and friends in the Bistro Restaurant.

Additional Features & Highlights

• In the Heart of Westchester County′s Corporate Environment
• Just $4.95 per Day for High-Speed Wired and Wireless Internet
• Just 22 Miles from New York City and 26 Miles from LGA
• 247 Guestrooms and 24,000 Sq. Ft. of Flexible Meeting Space

Directions & Transportation

From Westchester: Take 287 West to the New York State Thruway (I-87) North bound, take exit 9 Tarrytown (last exit before the Tappan Zee Bridge). At the end of the exit ramp turn left onto Route 119 West. Continue to the end of the road and turn left at the traffic light onto Route 9 South. At the 1st traffic light turn right into hotel parking lot.

From Connecticut: South on Merritt Parkway: Boston Post Road or Connecticut Turnpike to I 287 West to New York I 87 Thruway (North.... View all directions, map, and airport information

Hotel Policies: 

Check-In: 3pm - Check-Out: 12 Noon

Free Parking 

Self Parking in Open Parking Lot

Pets: No Pets Allowed

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown

455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591

Tel: 914.631.5700  Fax: 914.631.4125 

For more information visit:  http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/TERHIDT-DoubleTree-by-Hilton-Hotel-Tarrytown-New-York/index.do

artMRKT Productions

artMRKT, a newly formed Brooklyn-based organizer of art fairs, debuts artMRKT Hamptons, a new modern and contemporary art fair open Thursday, July 14, 2011 through Sunday, July 17, 2011, on the grounds of the Bridgehampton Historical Society in Bridgehampton, New York. artMRKT Hamptons presents more than 35 leading local, national, and international galleries in a state-of-the-art tented venue. The opening night preview benefits Southampton Hospital and the event is sponsored by Cadillac.

Showcasing a tightly focused selection of work in a boutique setting, artMRKT Hamptons offers important modern and contemporary work, including sculpture, drawings, photography, video, and installation. Among the galleries participating in artMRKT Hamptons are: 101/exhibit, Miami, FL; AJ Japour Gallery, Miami, FL; AUREUS Contemporary, Providence USA/Basel CH; Black & White Gallery/Project Space, Brooklyn, NY; Boltax Gallery, Shelter Island, NY; Dean Project, New York, NY; Foley Gallery, New York, NY; Frederic Snitzer Gallery, Miami, FL; Gallery Sam, Berkeley, CA; Gitana Rosa Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Halsey McKay Gallery, East Hampton, NY; JHB Gallery, New York, NY; Kathryn Markel Fine Art, New York, NY & Bridgehampton, NY; Keyes Art Projects, New York, NY; Leila Heller Gallery, New York, NY; Lennon, Weinberg, Inc., New York, NY; Like the Spice Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Mallick Williams & Co., New York, NY; Meulensteen, New York, NY; Mindy Solomon Gallery, St. Petersbug, FL; Modernbook Gallery Editions, San Francsico, CA; Morgan Lehman Gallery, New York, NY; Museum Works Galleries, Chicago, IL; Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York, NY; Patrajdas Contemporary, Chicago, IL;  PX Photography, New York, NY; Randall Scott Projects, NY/DC; RH Gallery, New York, NY; RHV Fine Art, Brooklyn, NY; Sara Nightingale Gallery, Water Mill, NY; Tally Beck Contemporary, Bangkok/New York and Witzenhausen Gallery, New York, NY & Amsterdam.

artMRKT, founded last year by third generation gallerist Max Fishko and longtime business partner, Jeffrey Wainhause, is gearing up to be one of the nation's premiere fine art fair companies for leading national and international galleries. The company offers three new art fairs in 2011, including artMRKT Hamptons; artMRKT San Francisco, a modern and contemporary art fair, which launched to rave reviews on May 19-22, 2011, at San Francisco's Concourse Exhibtion Center, and featured 65 galleries; and Texas Contemporary, taking place October 20-23, 2011, in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center, and featuring 50 galleries.

"The Hamptons provides one of the most unique settings in the country where the ideas, energy, and excitement generated and shared by artists, dealers, and collectors is exceptional," noted Max Fishko. "For artMRKT Hamptons, we have created a relaxed environment with important work from leading galleries which will engage seasoned art collectors and spark interest for new collectors."

In conjunction with the fair, artMRKT Hamptons also offers an innovative fund-raising program know as MRKTworks. The online and on site auction, consisting of work donated by participating galleries, supports local Hamptons-based non-profit organizations. Participating beneficiaries are: The Nature Conservancy, which works to protect the Hamptons beloved shoreline among many other projects since the 1950's; Bay Street Theatre, renowned for presenting new, classic, and contemporary works while being an artistic haven for an extended familly of artists and audiences; and Children's Museum of the East End, which enriches the lives of children and families. Collectors have the opportunity of bidding both in advance online at www.art-mrkt.com/hamptons/mrktworks and on site during the run of the show where the works will be on view. 100 percent of the proceeds from each piece donated will go to the corresponding beneficiary.

For more information, visit www.art-mrkt.com/hamptons

artMRKT Hamptons Show Information

Benefit Preview Party

artMRKT Hamptons opens with a Preview Party benefiting Southampton Hospital on Thursday, July 14, 2011, from 5:30 to 7:00pm., followed by a Preview Party from 7:00 to 9:30pm. The ticket to the Benefit Preview Party also includes access to the VIP Preview Party, as well as admission on Friday, Saturday & Sunday with VIP Lounge Access. Tickets for the benefit preview are $100 and can be purchased at www.art-mrkt.com/hamptons

Show Hours

Friday, July 15        11am to 7pm

Saturday, July 16    11am to 7pm

Sunday, July 17       11am to 5 pm

Venue Location

artMRKT Hamptons will be held on the grounds of the Bridgehampton Historical Society, which is centrally located in the heart of Bridgehampton on the main road at 2368 Montauk Highway (Route 27), Bridgehampton, NY 11932. Complimentary, easily-accessible parking is available.

Tickets

1 Day Ticket: $15

3 Day Pass (valid Friday, Saturday and Sunday): $25

Tickets are available online at www.art-mrkt.com/hamptons/tickets or can be purchased onsite during the run of the show. 

Entrance to the artMRKT Hamptons Benefit Preview Party from 5:30-7pm on Thursday, July 14 requires the purchase of a Benefit Preview Party ticket.

 

About artMRKT

artMRKT Productions is a Brooklyn-based organizer of contemporary and modern art fairs. Co-founded in 2010 by Max Fishko and Jeffrey Wainhause, artMRKT Productions currently presents three fairs annually throughout the United States - artMRKT San Francisco, artMRKT Hamptons and Texas Contemporary. artMRKT Productions combines a selection of internationally renowned modern and contemporary galleries, in addition to a specific regional focus, creating unique marketplaces that enable visitors to access the art world's emerging and established contemporary talents and historically significant works.

For A Complimentary 1-Day Pass To ArtMRKT Hamptons (Courtesy Of The Art Marketer), Enter Discount Code Lisaf On Bottom Right Hand Corner Of online Form where it asks for Discount Code) at www.art-mrkt.com/hamptons/tickets

SITARA NAGHAVI

 

ABOUT SITARA NAGHAVI

Sitara Naghavi was influenced early on by the rich cultural design heritage of her native country, Pakistan. 

“I was always intrigued by the beauty inherent in the ancient art and architecture of the Near East, and equally fascinated by the ornate metalwork found in my studies of European history, particularly the Baroque movement.”

Sitara studied Fine Arts at GC Punjab University, earning her MFA in 1991 along with the distinguished Silver Medal of Excellence. She continued her education in New York, acquiring additional techniques and training in metal works and ceramic decoration, graphic art, painting in oil on canvas, porcelain stoneware and the application of enamel on glass.

Starting out as a painter, she found herself gravitating back to her love of metals.  As she learned how to work with metal, particularly sterling silver, she became equally intrigued by how malleable the medium is, and how easy it would be to utilize the medium as a wonderful outlet for her own creativity.

“Sterling silver has such beautiful, sculptural qualities. The raw material can be shaped at the will of the craftsman, allowing me to transform the medium into endless configurations. I can forge, solder, melt, oxidize, polish and hammer the silver into countless shapes, creating a variety of beautiful, decorative and wearable objects.”

With a vivid imagination, Sitara discovered the possibilities to silver are infinite, while respecting symmetry and balance. Akin to a sculptor, Naghavi shapes the raw material into pieces that are both timeless and functional. Silver has become the ultimate art form for her self-expression and she has acquired mastery of this field. 

Equally enamored with the gemstone embellishments and their symbolism found in the clothing and decorative design elements of her native land, Sitara incorporates many precious stones into her designs.

“Turquoise is considered good luck, and so you will find a lot of turquoise in my designs”  

Besides the symbolism, Sitara loves the contrast that the warm colors and rough-hewn shapes of the stones provide against the cool, smooth and shiny sterling silver base in her work.

“The contrasting colors pop out, complementing both mediums and bringing special attention to each of their unique qualities.”

She chooses natural looking stones, and often keeps them in their rawest form.

“As a child, I was fascinated by rocks, so through my art, I try to reproduce the natural qualities inherent in nature’s bounty.”

Nature inspires many of her organic forms. A resident of the North Shore of Long Island, and Southampton, NY, Sitara is inspired by the natural beauty found throughout the region.

“I love the beach, the beauty of the ocean waves rolling in on the shores, the shape of the leaves, the feeling of calm amidst the calling and the flight of birds.”

Not surprisingly, Sitara’s art exhibits all of these unique influences: a fusion of the East and the West, a harmony of traditional elements mixed with both the exotic and contemporary, of beauty and functionality.

Each piece is handcrafted by the artist, making her work very different from anything found on the commercial market.  Like the artist herself, Sitara Naghavi designs embody resilience, resourcefulness, originality, quality and value…

“I haven’t found anything similar to the pieces I create. That is also where much of the inspiration has come to open my own gallery.”

Sitara Naghavi jewelry designs include: bracelets, pendants, rings and earrings. Every work of art is unique, many adorned by precious gemstones enhancing the intrinsic beauty of the silver.  The final product is a marriage of functionality and beauty.  

A separate line, called the SIN collection is being developed with the young woman in mind. Inspired by her teenage daughters, this jewelry line will be tasteful, trendy, a bit daring, and at accessible price points, no doubt assuming widespread appeal to this fashion savvy young shopper.

Her decorative objects have been called ‘jewelry for the home’ as they too, are crafted with an eye for function and design. These pieces incorporate the same elements and lines as her jewelry: sterling silver, copper, gemstones, often making dramatic statements as centerpieces, trays, bowls, boxes or decorative accents, inspired by the same organic, regional and cultural influences.

In a separate category of functional art, Sitara hand paints ceramic bowls and vases with designs
recalling her Near Eastern heritage: rich paisleys, birds of paradise, and free flowing forms in vivid colors that are then encrusted with many of the same precious stones found in her jewelry and silver objects. 

Sitara Naghavi’s paintings, jewelry and sculptural designs enjoy widespread appeal to an international clientele. Her paintings have been exhibited in shows on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and her works can be found in many private and corporate collections.

As passionate about philanthropy as she is about her art, Sitara pledges to donate a percentage of all sales to charities that are close to her heart: The Breast Cancer Foundation, The Breast Cancer Society, Southampton Hospital and a select group of children’s charities.

Sitara Naghavi’s designs may be found at her Southampton gallery, Sitara Naghavi, 60 Jobs Lane, Southampton, NY. The gallery opens on May 26, 2011 and will be open Monday through Thursday from 10am-6pm; Friday and Saturday, 10am-8pm and Sunday from 11am-5pm. A Grand Opening celebration is scheduled for late June 2011.

For more information, please call 1-855-7-SITARA (774-8272) or 1-631-377-3637.

Or visit http://www.sitaranaghavi.com/. 

Friend us on Facebbok: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sitara-Naghavi/208515125849291

###

 Media contact: Lisa Freedman/Andrea Gurvitz, Gurvitz Marketing Solutions LLC                      Lisa: 914 907-9842, lisaefreedman@hotmail.com                                                               Andrea: 631 324-3082, agurvitz@optonline.net

 

 

5/2011

 
  

The 3rd Annual Live Out Loud - Pride in the Hamptons Fundraiser

                                                                                                                  

Last year, I had the distinct pleasure of re-connecting with an old friend from High School, Bruce Sloane. Bruce and I attended Baldwin High School, on the south shore of Long Island many moons ago. When I relocated to the Hamptons, a mutual HS friend told me Bruce had a place out here as well, and I should look him up. Sure enough, I found Bruce on Facebook, and gave him a call right around the time I was promoting ArtHamptons (www.arthamptons.com/).
 
I read about a major fundraiser Bruce was producing called the Live Out Loud 2nd Annual Pride in the Hamptons, and wanted to offer his charity some complimentary tickets to ArtHamptons. Bruce couldn't have been more hospitable in inviting me over for a pre-party barbeque the night before the big gala to re-acquaint ourselves with each other and help with last-minute details in preparing for this event. I had the pleasure of meeting Bruce's neighbors and friends, as well as many of the fine folks involved with Live Out Loud (http://www.liveoutloud.info/wp/), all busily preparing for the 2nd Annual Pride in the Hamptons fundraiser  which would be held at Bruce's lovely home the next night. (http://www.liveoutloud.info/wp/events/success-second-annual-pride-in-the-hamptons-fundraiser/).
 
A host with the most, Bruce made me, and everyone he invited over, feel right at home from the start. And this was just the pre-event! I was impressed with the attention to detail, the amount of preparation, the dedication and the motivation behind the scenes in preparing for this event. I was equally impressed with the quality of the people I met who were involved with this organization, their own passion, motivation, talent and the personal stories that had brought them here.

Here's what else I learned: 
 
LIVE OUT LOUD is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering LGBT youth by connecting them with successful LGBT professionals in their community.
 
THE VISION is for A world where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth live PROUD, live OUT, live FREE! 

THE MISSION is to empower, energize and enable Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth to live the life of their dreams through the celebration of the richness and diversity of our shared experience, the visibility of role models and the dissemination of information. 
 
Why They Do What They Do? The LGBT rights movement has come a long way, but the struggle is far from over. LGBT youth still feel isolation, ostracism and fear.
 
Who Do They Help? Live Out Loud helps LGBT students, primarily high school students, in New York City and the tri-state area.
 
What Are Their Needs? Even though they live in one of the greatest, most progressive cities in the world, many LGBT youth still feel isolated, unsafe, and unsure of where to turn for support and advice.
 
What Are The Goals of This Organization? Until all students, teachers, and adults can lead open and honest lives, Live Out Loud aims to inspire and empower students by showing them that they have the potential to lead positive, open, and fulfilling lives.
 

Growing up, we all knew kids who felt as many LGBT kids have felt, if indeed, we weren't one of those kids ourselves. And although times have changed somewhat, the fact remains, there are still too many places, where they haven't changed enough, and there are still too many kids who feel embarrassed, ashamed, intimidated, fearful, ostracized or confused in being, knowing or embracing who they are. We have seen the statistics and read many of the tragic tales, which represent only a small percentage of the population the media feels newsworthy enough to report on.
 
I have heard many of the personal stories and seen the good this organization has done and continues to do for a growing percentage of youth, where we see just how effective their strength in numbers can be. The Live Out Loud 2nd Annual Pride in the Hamptons event attracted over 350 guests for a perfect evening of fabulous food, fashion, flirtaciousness and fun one Saturday evening at Bruce's house last June...
 
Bruce and the Live Out Loud organizers know how to put the FUN in FUNdraising... and Mother Nature did her part to insure the weather matched every perfect detail! What a wonderful introduction to my new life in the Hamptons! A great crowd, I came away with so many new friends, the re-acquantaince of a very special old friend (just don't ask us how old!), and the wonderful feeling of being a part of something important!
 
This year, I am proud to be doing my small part to help make the 3rd Annual Pride in the Hamptons event even that much more of a success. The event this year is scheduled for Saturday, June 25th from 6-8:30pm at Bruce's home in the Hamptons.
 
I ask you each to consider any number of opportunities you, too, can be doing your part to help these kids through this event:
 
1. Become a Sponsor
2. Make a Donation
3. Donate an item to the Silent Auction
4. Plan on Attending!
5. Spread the Word
6. Join one of the Organizing Committees
7. Attend the Meetings
8. Volunteer
9. Let us know your own ideas, or share your own experiences that may seem appropriate to our needs.
 
For more information, visit the Live Out Loud Website: http://www.liveoutloud.info/wp/
 
To Volunteer your services, make a donation, or join a committee, contact: Muriel@LiveOutLoud.info
 
For tickets, go to: http://www.liveoutloud.info/wp/category/pride-in-the-hamptons-fundraiser/

To become a fan on Facebook, click: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143376132401087

Once again, I am proud to be a part of this effort, and hope you join us in reaching our goals this year! We promise to make it a good  time, with good fun, attracting a great crowd, entertainment, food & wine, as we join our individual efforts to collectively make a difference in this cause!  
 
 
On behalf of all the kids our efforts benefit, we thank-you from the bottom of our hearts, and look forward to working with you!
 
 
 

Sincerely,
Lisa Freedman
East Hampton, NY 11937

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresno, East Hampton, NY

It is (the last weekend of) Restaurant Week in the Hamptons, and Cousin A is here for the weekend. She suggests Fresno, a favorite go-to restaurant here for her, and her recommendations are usually right on  target for me. Besides, this is a new choice for me. I haven't been here before and I love trying new places. Cousin A has had a weekend home here since the 1990's so she is pretty well versed on all the local restaurant choices. She makes a 5:30pm reservation for a Saturday night in March, a tad early for my tastes, and I make a joke as we enter the restaurant that the time of day is a bit reminiscent of the 'early bird special' a popular time among seniors in Florida who get discounted meals at restaurants between 5-7pm before the main crowds take hold. She says this is the only time we could get in, a sign of the season now just starting up in the Hamptons where you do, indeed, need to be making dinner reservations for the prime times in all the best restaurants at least two weeks in advance, especially during special promotions like Restaurant Week. No matter, we have the entire restaurant to ourselves, and the staff couldn't be nicer as they greet us, the first guests for this evening. The sunlight is still streaming into a beautiful space, and we can still enjoy the peace and quiet of the beautifully designed interior, with the appropriate background music setting the tone for us to sit down to a lovely meal, before the crowds roll in.

Cousin A orders a Prosecco to drink. I haven't heard of Prosecco (so much to learn!), but A describes it as a light and fruity Italian champagne, before offering me a taste of hers. It arrives in a champagne flute, with the bubbles still rising to the top, and is indeed as lovely to drink as it is described to be. "I'll have what she's having", I tell the waiter, and he goes to get another glass. Having just put my lips to her glass, she gives me her glass and takes the fresh one that arrives shortly thereafter.

 

The waiter then mentions a special that is not listed on the menu, a Black Angus Steak, piled high with a Mountain of Beer Battered Onion Rings on a Bed of Creamed Spinach. I am sure he uses a number of other mouth-watering adjectives that I am forgetting here. I am sold. Living in a vegetarian house, where my landlady prefers me not to cook meat because the smell disgusts her, I crave the opportunities available for me to enjoy a good steak. No matter that I am also told this choice is another $15 above the Restaurant Week Prix Fixe. I am prepared to pay that for this small pleasure! LOL!

Cousin A orders the Pan Seared Scottish Salmon with Meditterranean Cous Cous & Carrot - Harrisa Sauce from the Restaurant Week menu. A cup of bread crusts arrive with a side of butter. We are in heaven eating more bread than we probably should be as we make a toast reflective of where we both are in our lives, and where we both hope to go.

First course is a Salad for us both, Endive and Arugula for me; Classic Greens for Cousin A. Both fresh, artfully presented, crisp and with just the right amount of dressing to enhance the flavors.

Our meals follow, mine looking too good to eat. "I need to take a picture of this," I say to Cousin A, who pulls out her iPhone camera, as if on cue... her meal is equally beautiful, but less worthy of a picture. By now, I am sorry to have consumed as many bread crusts as I have, but enjoying each morsel of steak and onion rings that have so graciously been served to me. Cousin A is enjoying her choice as well. "The crunch of the caviar topping offers a nice complement to the soft flesh of the salmon," she remarks, as I observe that the side of vegetables on her plate is artfully arranged to create a nice palette for the eyes as well as the taste buds.

I make it half-way through my steak and all the way through the beer battered onion rings, before I ask for the waiter to wrap the rest up for me to take home. I often justify the expense of dining out by the fact that I can usually stretch one restaurant meal into 2 or 3 meals with the amount I end up taking home. But, this is also a testament to the generous size portion of this steak, that there is still enough to take home. I have not even touched the bed of spinach! More to enjoy tomorrow.  

The waiter brings the dessert menu (always room for dessert!), and Cousin A recommends the  Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake with Nutella-Fluff Center and Hazelnut Gelato. I have a hard time deciding between that and the Classic Vanilla Creme Brulee, but in the end the Chocolate Cake wins out. I am glad it did. No problem cleaning the plate on that either. Cousin A forgoes dessert to remain the near single digit dress size she has shrunk to. "My diet and exercise regime will begin tomorrow," I quip. No sense in not enjoying chocolate cake or beer battered onion rings where I can!

We both end our meals with decaf. The check comes. With tax and tip, this meal for two has cost close to $140, of which my portion tops out at $75.

In the course of our conversation, I tell Cousin A that I dined out earlier that week with a date who remarked to me that his experience with Restaurant Week is that the meals most restaurants serve during Restaurant Week are below the standards of what they usually serve at full price. Cousin A disputes this theory. In her mind the whole point of Restaurant Week is to be able to dine out at Restaurants you wouldn't normally be dining at because they are too expensive. The smart restaurants hook you in with the Restaruant Week promotion, and then offer upgrades to the Prix Fixe Menu that have you spending more for the standards they have survived on, but still less than what you may normally spend on their regular menu. No matter. Where the experience and quality match the value, we are both prepared to pay the price. Fresno did all that and more for both of us, and I expect it will, indeed, become a regular go-to for me now as well.

 

Veteran restaurateurs David Loewenberg and Michael Nolan teamed up to open Fresno in the spring of 2004. The New American menu emphasizes simple yet sophisticated preparations of local fare. Located on the edge of the village of East Hampton, the space is an airy, sky lit room featuring a wall of French doors overlooking a landscaped patio with a fountain where one may enjoy outdoor dining under a pergola. In the dining room, there is a long upholstered banquette along the opposite wall and a sleek zinc bar on the back wall anchors the space. Casual Elegant Dining, Contemporary American Cuisine. Dinners priced from $31-50. Open for Dinner Wednesday thru Sunday from 5:30pm. Chef Gretchen Menser. www.fresnorestaurant.com, 8 Fresno Place, East Hampton, NY 11937, T. 631-324-8700

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fine Art of Dining Out

For as long as I can remember, dining out has been as much of a pleasure and an important part of my life as writing & art has been. A feast for all the senses, a fine restaurant combines all the ingredients in the fine art of living together under one roof:  blend together the theatrics of a beautifully designed interior infused with the right artworks, creating the appropriate ambiance. Add to that landscape, exceptional service, background music, menu and spirits, not to mention the appropriate company and you have all the elements to a memorable experience at hand.

Thus it follows, that an important addition to my blog will be a report on many of these fine dining experiences.

We start with Fresno in East Hampton, NY, the first establishment to inspire the idea of reviewing restaurants in my blog through their own exceptional display of creative talents.

Why the Hamptons?

That is the inevitable question that most people ask after I tell them I recently moved from Westchester County, NY, my home for the last 25 years to create a new life for myself on the East End of Long Island. For me, it was a natural choice.

Growing up on the South Shore of Long Island, my family and I spent many weekends in the Hamptons. Back then, the seemingly long drive from Nassau County took us through the (then) farmlands of Suffolk County where the suburban sprawl we lived in gave way to the potatoe farms and cornfields that dotted the landscape heading out towards the Hamptons. There were duck farms and wineries, quaint little towns surrounded by equally quaint little houses. These were followed by long stretches of highway making their way through the equally long stretches of coastline until we arrived at my aunt's beach house in Amagansett.

Summer days were spent frolicking on the beach with my cousins, while our parents played golf. Evenings were spent chowing down the day's catch of lobsters in dockside restaurants where we watched the boats come in against magnificent sunsets and starried skies. Dinner was followed by fireside nights playing scrabble, doing crossword puzzles, and sharing the stories and experiences of our lives that bound our families together. There were trips into town, where we inevitably brushed up with dressed down celebrities who were there for the same reasons we were - quality time relaxing with family and enjoying the area's natural beauty.

Years later, as I was going through a difficult divorce, my Cousin A was equally generous with the invitations she extended to myself and my son to stay with her family at their home in East Hampton. Here our young sons frolicked together on the same beaches we once did as Cousin A and I forged deeper family bonds through our own shared stories and experiences of the day. 

There is something about the ocean that washes away whatever cares one may be feeling at the moment. A walk on the beach, the roar of the waves, the smell of the salt air, the treasures of the sea washed up on the shore, the sight of a boat on the distant horizon making its way to some exotic destination as I imagine myself being a passenger on that ship... and I am transformed to another state of mind and life.  However complicated my own life may be at the time, it becomes very uncomplicated and simple in the transformation.

Add to that landscape the treasured time (or memory of time) spent with family and friends, and you have a prescription for wellness that no drug can match...

Why wouldn't I want to be here full-time?