The countdown is on, and the party people plan to party down to the very last minute. I know I do.
The Mitchell family was fortunate enough to take flight on one of Santa’s sleighs and head down to Sarasota, Fla., for the memorial service for the Honorable Franklin Wheeler Morton Jr. (May 17, 1920–Oct. 28, 2014). “Uncle Frank,” as we affectionately called him, sat on the bench at Brooklyn Supreme Court for two terms, beginning in 1969. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Gwyneth, and daughter Sheryl. He leaves behind daughters Rebecca and Catherine, son Franklin III and grandchildren Asia, Ian, Kyle and Gwyneth, all of whom gathered for the service. Uncle Frank moved to Sarasota after retiring from the bench, settling in among the sandy beaches and a host of friends, both old and new.
I have always had a special place in my heart for Uncle Frank, as he was the one who encouraged Charles to pop the question. It was November 2002, and Charles and I hadn’t known each other for very long, having only met the previous August at a camp reunion. Our love story is just that, another story, but for the purpose of this article, I will cut to the chase and say it didn’t take Charles and I very long to know, as Michael Jackson would say, “This is it!”
With his heart hot with passion and his feet cold as ice, Charles didn’t know if he should propose or not. After spending the day vacillating, he called Uncle Frank, seeking the elder’s advice.
“Do you love her?” Uncle Frank asked.
“Yes, I do,” replied Charles.
“Do you have a job?” Uncle Frank asked.
“Yes, I do,” replied Charles.
“Well, then ask her to marry you,” Uncle Frank told him.
Seven months later, it was signed, sealed and delivered. Before what seemed like the entire village of Harlem, we were married at the then Chapel of Intercession. Uncle Frank made the trek north for the grand occasion, and now, with all due respect, we made the trip south to honor and thank him for everything.
Having enjoyed some warmer weather, friends and family, along with sharing stories, laughter and tears, we headed back north as quickly as we left, arriving just in time to attend the Metro Manhattan Chapter of the Links’ 10th Biennial Holiday Gala, held at the Gotham.
This year’s honorees were the well-deserving Reginald Van Lee, executive vice president of Booz Allen Hamilton, who received the 2014 Corporate Leadership Award; Dawn Davis, vice president and publisher of 37INK, who received the 2014 Visionary Award; and Barbara Smith, of the famed B. Smith’s restaurant.
As is well known by now, Smith has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She gave friends and family quite a scare recently when she boarded a bus to Sag Harbor, where she was expected to spend time with friends. You can only imagine the scare when by midnight, she failed to show. Frantically, a search party was formed, only to be relieved of duty when Smith was discovered safe and sound. When the bus had arrived in Sag Harbor and no one was there to meet her, she simply re-boarded the bus and returned home. Smart girl.
Best of luck wishes are extended to New York County Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingaling, who will soon be installed as the county’s chief clerk. He replaces Norman Goode, who has held the position for more than 30 years. Big shoes to fill.
Happy birthday to Kim Getty, Appellate Court Judge Cheryl Chambers, James Tracy Moultrie, Malcolm McCormick, Salina Coleman, Thomas Carroll and Amy Lowe.
All hail the queen as Thelma Dye-Holmes, executive director of Northside Center for Child Development, graciously opened the doors to Northside to welcome Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. It was beyond exciting and most appropriate that the duchess should visit Northside as, in the spirit of Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark, Northside does great things for so many people.
I learned that among the many stops for Prince William and Duchess Catherine was a benefit gala for St. Andrews University, where they met when they were both students. Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, tickets for the gala were $50,000, and no, there were no community tickets available.
With more than 600 people in attendance, the royal couple, who were surrounded at all times by their entourage, were hardly visible as they were whisked from one room to another. Seems as though there was a VIP reception within the reception. I would think that at $50,000, everyone was a VIP. Imagine paying $50,000 to be in the same room with someone but never being able to actually see them.
More next week on Thelma’s thoughts and firsthand experience, as I know she will graciously share.
Trees are lighting up everywhere around town, and although I haven’t seen the one that usually lights up the Harlem State Office Building, the lights strung across 125th Street are very festive this year. Maybe they are the same ones that were used last year but somehow, this year, they look brighter. This, I hope, is a sign of good things to come; things such as Christmas wishes, peace on Earth and all good things to all good men, women and children.
If you are still looking for something to do to get into the Christmas spirit, the Bocado Cafe, located on Lexington Avenue at 87th Street, will prepare a Christmas Eve dinner Wednesday night only with a prix fixe menu. For $59, the cafe offers a choice of soup, salad, entree and dessert. I started to drool when I saw mixed greens with feta cheese, roasted almonds and blood orange vinaigrette, braised short ribs with marsala demiglaze, cheddar potato terrine, served with marinated Portobello mushrooms on the menu. I am still trying to decide whether I would have creme brulee or chocolate mousse for dessert. What makes the Bocado one of my new favs is the soft lighting, seductive music and, for this special night, the complimentary glass of wine. Although I won’t be there because Christmas Eve finds me in the kitchen, preparing the full spread for Christmas Day dinner, when friends and family pack the house, I will pass on the invite to those who can be there. Reservations are suggested: 212-289-9004.
Until next week … kisses.