Master Calendar of Charity Benefits, Parties & Events
in New York
December 2010

Wednesday, December 1

• New York Women's Foundation: "Stepping Out and Stepping Up" honoring Agnes Gund, and Grace Hightower De Niro and Robert De Niro. at Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway. Cocktail Reception at 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Dancing at 7:30 p.m. Co-Chairs include:  Hyatt Bass, Somers Farkas and Diana L. Taylor. Vice Chairs include: Susan R. Cullman, Anne E. Delaney, Antoinette E. La Belle, Carolyn Buck Luce, Yvonne Quinn and Jean Shafiroff. Details online.

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• French-American Aid for Children: "Holiday Cocktail Party and Silent Auction" at the French Consulate, 934 Fifth Avenue. Tickets: $100. Details from 212-486-9593 or purchase tickets online.

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• Solders’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club: "First Annual 'Deck the Halls With Red, White and Blue Luncheon'" saluting “Holiday Heroes,” at the 21 Club. Reception at 11:30 a.m. Luncheon from noon - 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $150. Details from 212-683-4660 or ruth@ssmaclub.org.

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• NYC & Company Foundation: "10th Annual Leadership Awards Gala" at 6:30 p.m. at the Plaza Hotel, honoring Anna Wintour, Terry Lundgren and Diane von Furstenberg in acknowledgement of their long-standing support for the city’s cultural institutions and their contributions to the vibrancy of New York City. Invite only, Details from 212-484-5430.

Thursday, December 2 - Saturday, December 4

• New York Junior League: "39th Annual Golden Tree--A Golden Opportunity to Give." Shopping, food, and drinks. This three-day event features silent auctions and special evenings of cocktails and cigars, as well as an activity-filled kids’ day for the whole family. Shopping vendors fill the space with special prices on gifts for every budget. 20 percent of all proceeds directly support the charitable activities of the New York Junior League. Details online.

Friday, December 3

• Westhampton Free Library: "Artist Reception for Robert Verdi." Diana Steinberg and Carolyn Kendall Buchter will host a Special Reception for the artist from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., which will benefit the Library’s programs. In addition to donating one of his large scale paintings to the Library, the artist is donating a percentage of sales. Details from 631-288-3335 or online.

Saturday, December 4

• Robin Hood: "Robin Hood Rocks with Sheryl Crow" at Irving Plaza. Pre-party, premium concert ticket, open bar and light food. Tickets: $1,000 ($250 for concert and open bar only). Details and purchase tickets online.

Monday, December 6

• Food Allergy Initiative: "Food Allergy Ball" at the Waldorf-Astoria. Cocktails at 7:00 p.m. Dinner at 8:00 p.m. Chairs: Julia Koch, Sharyn Mann and Todd Slotkin. Corporate Dinner Chair: David Koch. Black Tie. Tickets: $1,000. Details from 212-627-1000.

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• New York Junior League: "Holiday Shopping Event at Tory Burch." at the Tory Burch store in the Meatpacking District, 38-40 Little West 12th St. Cocktails and snacks. 15% off purchases made that evening. The first 75 attendees will receive a gift bag. A portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the NYJL to benefit its charitable activities. Tickets: $20 (in advance; walk-in tickets, if available, are $25). Details and purchase tickets online.

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• New York Cares: "Annual Winter Benefit" at Cipriani 42nd Street. Cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Dinner, program and live auction at 7:30 p.m. John McEnroe and Sotheby’s Executive Vice President Hugh Hildesley will serve as auctioneers. CNN senior analyst and staff writer for The New Yorker Jeffrey Toobin will host the evening. Business Attire. Tickets: $750. Details from 212-245-6570, ext. 28 or purchase tickets online.

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• Inner-City Scholarship Fund: "34th Annual Award Dinner" at the Mandarin Oriental. 6:30 p.m.: Reception. 7:30 p.m.: Dinner.

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• Opening Act: "Benefit Reading of Hate Mail" at 7:00 p.m. at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street. Cynthia Nixon and John Slattery will star in a one-night only play reading of the quirky comedy. The benefit reading will reunite Nixon and Slattery after their performances in the Broadway show, Rabbit Hole. Post-show toast with the cast, photo shoot viewing at the theater, program recognition. Opening Act provides free after-school theater programs to New York City's most under-served public high schools. Tickets: $250 (limited availability)/$100 (performance only). Details online.

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• InViolet Rep: "A Very Sexy Christmas" at Bar XII, 206 East 34th street from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Tickets: $20 (wristbands for limited drink specials (free whiskey and beer are available until supplies run out) until 10:00 p.m.) Details online.

Tuesday, December 7

• Friends Without a Border: "14th Annual Friends of Friends Photography Auction" from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street. Over 120 fine art photographs and books will be auctioned to support Angkor Hospital for Children. Tickets: $50. Details and purchase tickets online.

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• Food Bank For New York City: "Eat•Celebrate•Support" from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. atop the Empire State Building. An evening of holiday-inspired cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Kick-off of the Food Bank’s newly formed Culinary Council. The Culinary Council, Chaired by chef/author Mario Batali, brings together leaders in the culinary industry to raise funds and awareness for the Food Bank For New York City and its efforts to provide food and services for the 1.5 million New Yorkers who rely on them. Festive attire. Tickets: $250. Details and purchase tickets online.

Wednesday, December 8

• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and White Columns: "Rob Pruitt’s 2010 Art Awards" at Webster Hall. 125 East 11th Street. 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $1,000. Details from artawards@guggenheim.org or call 212-360-4309.

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• For the benefit of St. Jude Children's Research Center: "Fifth Annual Holiday Celebration" at Brooks Brothers, 346 Madison Avenue. 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. For the fifth year in a row, Brooks Brothers is inviting families to join them and enjoy an array of festive family fun such as a book reading with St. Jude National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas, a special performance by Wynton Marsalis and the Members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, a performance from the cast of “Billy Elliot,” photos with Santa, and arts and crafts projects. The public is invited to join in all the holiday merriment, which will also include cookie and ornament decorating, balloonist Todd Neufield dressed as elves and other events throughout the store. Eggnog, hot cider, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Preview performance from the cast of “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.” The Boys and Girls Choir of Harlem Alumni Ensemble directed by Terrance Wright will also be performing holiday classics. 10% of the evening’s net sales donated to St. Jude.

Thursday, December 9

• Foundation for Contemporary Arts: "Painting and Sculpture" at Lehmann Maupin, 201 Chrystie Street (at Stanton Street). Paintings and sculptures (and a small number of works on paper) by established and mid-career artists will be installed alongside work by emerging artists. In addition to works by organizing committee artists, works by many well known artists will be featured. The exhibition will feature over 180 artworks available for sale. Proceeds will directly benefit FCA's grant programs. Organizing Committee: Cecily Brown, Vija Celmins, Rachel Feinstein, Robert Gober, Jasper Johns, Julian Lethbridge, Nate Lowman, Anselm Kiefer, Brice Marden, Julie Mehretu, James Rosenquist, Ed Ruscha, Dana Schutz, Kara Walker and T.J. Wilcox. Exhibition open until January 9, 2011. The Foundation for Contemporary Arts is a non-profit arts organization founded in 1963 by Jasper Johns and John Cage that provides grants to artists and arts organizations. Details from info@contemporary-arts.org or 212-807-7077.

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• Animal Medical Center: "Centennial Top Dog Gala " honoring Katharine and William Rayner at the American Museum of Natural History. Tickets: $750. Details from 212-329-8660.

Saturday, December 11

• New York City Ballet: "Nutcracker Family Benefit." Details from specialevents@nycballet.com or 212-870-5585.

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• Brooklyn Kindergarten Society: "Yuletide Ball" at the Heights Casino, 75 Montague Street. Dessert and dancing. 10:00 p.m. Tickets: $225 ($150 for of under 35). Details and purchase tickets online.

Monday, December 13

• American Friends of the Open University of Israel: "Annual Gala" at the Plaza Hotel. Details from ebudd@afoui.org or 212-712-1800.

Tuesday, December 21

• Music Kitchen: "First Annual Gala" from 6:45 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. at Bogardus Mansion, 75 Murray Street. First portion of the evening starts at 6:45 p.m. with food and holiday themed cocktails and a seated classical concert played by pianist Emanuel Ax and fiddler Mark O' Connor, joined by Music Kitchen's Founder and President, violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins. As the first concert comes to an end, at 8:00 p.m. additional guests will arrive for the second portion for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Mark O' Connor's Hot Swing Group will be the second performance of the evening. The evening will end with some desserts and party music by The David Bixler Jazz Quintet. Silent auction. Gift bag. Tickets: $200 ($100 for admission at 8:00 p.m.) Details and purchase tickets online.

Tuesday, December 7

• Junior Council of the American Museum of Natural History: "Private Viewing of Brain: The Inside Story" followed by a cocktail reception. 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. This immersive exhibition will allow visitors to explore how the brain—a product of millions of years of evolution—produces thoughts, senses, and feelings; experience how the brain is continually changing at different stages of life; and discover how new understanding of the workings of the brain may help scientists repair and reverse declines in brain function. Tickets: $80 (in advance or $100 at the door). Details from 212-769-5256.

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• Young Friends of the New-York Historical Society: "Gala" at City Hall Restaurant. Tickets: $100 ($75 for Young Friends). Details from 212-485-9201 or bbotwinick@nyhistory.org or purchase tickets online.

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• Friends Without a Border: "14th Annual Friends of Friends Photography Auction" from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 West 18th Street. Over 120 fine art photographs and books will be auctioned to support Angkor Hospital for Children. Tickets: $50. Details and purchase tickets online.

Thursday, December 9

• Independent Curators International: "Celebrating 35 Years of Independent Curators International" at Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, from 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Festive Attire. Tickets: $175. Details and purchase tickets online.

Friday, December 10

• New York Botanical Garden: "Winter Wonderland Ball." Details from 718-817-8700.

Monday, December 13

• charity: water: "5th Annual Charity:Ball Clean Water" at Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets: $200 ($250 until December 1 at 12:00 a.m.) Details and purchase tickets online.

Wednesday, December 15

• RedLight Children: "A Night of Entertainment" at Amnesia, 609 West 29th Street. Starts at 6:30 p.m. Poker Tournament. Silent auction. Tickets: $100. Details online.

Thursday, December 16

• New York Junior League: "Holiday Party" from 8:00 p.m. - midnight. The Astor House/New York Junior League Headquarters for Training and Leadership, 130 East 80th Street. Festive Holiday Attire. Tickets: $80 (in advance; $95 at the door; $65 for NYJL volunteers (limit 2). (21 or older). Details from astorhouseevents@nyjl.org or purchase tickets online.

Friday, December 17

• WGIRLS for the benefit the Children Of Harlem Hospital: "6th Annual ‘Hope for the Holidays Event'" to celebrate the Holidays like Mad Men from 8:00 p.m. - midnight at RDV, 409 West 13th Street. 60s Cocktail Attire Required. Tickets: $65 (if available). Details and purchase tickets online.

Tuesday, December 21

• Music Kitchen: "First Annual Gala" from 6:45 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. at Bogardus Mansion, 75 Murray Street. First portion of the evening starts at 6:45 p.m. with food and holiday themed cocktails and a seated classical concert played by pianist Emanuel Ax and fiddler Mark O' Connor, joined by Music Kitchen's Founder and President, violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins. As the first concert comes to an end, at 8:00 p.m. additional guests will arrive for the second portion for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Mark O' Connor's Hot Swing Group will be the second performance of the evening. The evening will end with some desserts and party music by The David Bixler Jazz Quintet. Silent auction. Gift bag. Tickets: $200 ($100 for admission at 8:00 p.m.) Details and purchase tickets online.

Although we endeavor to maintain the accuracy of the listings, locations, prices and times should always be confirmed with the sponsoring organization.

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E-mail all inquiries to: randall@charitybenefits.com