With Wimbledon over and the Rio Olympics to begin, many are keeping cool in front of the television set, inside some air-conditioned abode. It is always a pleasure to watch the Williams sisters. Off the court, they are as gracious and charming as they are ferocious on the court. Venus never was more so than at the Holiday House Hamptons showhouse, located in Southamptons’ Water Mill community. The Water Mill home is currently on the market for $18 million. Situated by the water, the home features a rooftop tennis court (no, Venus didn’t play), a private dock, a home theatre, more than 9,000 square feet of deck space and a 600-bottle wine room. Needless to say, the views are breath taking, both inside and out. The event, hosted by Pamela Eldridge, associate publisher of Hamptons Cottages & Gardens, and Holiday House Founder Iris Dankner, was to wish Venus well when she represents the U.S. in Rio.
Personally, I try to do my share of watching Wimbledon and the Olympic trials, but I just love the hot weather. So at some point, I’m outdoors. Yes, I love the hot weather—hot that makes the sweat start dripping from the center of your forward before it drips down your neck. Yet, as hot as it has been, I have not felt a warm breeze blow. Most breezes, if there are any, still have a tinge of coolness about them. Apologies if I’m grossing you out.
If you’re looking for a way to cool off, pop inside of the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, located at 10 W. 64th St., July 17, 18 or 19, where Karen Jones Meadows and One Purpose Productions invite you as their guest to a private performance of “Harriet’s Return.” Written by and starring Karen Jones Meadows, the play is based on the legendary life of Harriet Tubman. There will be a light repast, conversation and gift drawing. The show runs two hours, including intermission.
It was also pretty cool inside of the Plaza Hotel, where the Women’s Forum of New York hosted the sixth annual Elly Awards Luncheon, named after the founder, Elinor “Elly” Guggenheimer. This year’s awardees, noted for being outstanding women leaders, were Kay Koplovitz, founder and former chair and CEO of USA Networks, author and cofounder and managing director of the Springboard Fund; Rosie Rios, 43rd treasurer of the United States and past managing director of investments at MacFarlane Partners; and Phillipa Soo, starring in Broadway’s “Hamilton” as Eliza Hamilton and cofounder of the Eliza Project.
My daughter Julia has been playing the “Hamilton” soundtrack on YouTube, and I must say I continue to enjoy the show even after listening to it 25 times. The luncheon raised $250,000 for the Women’s Forum of New York Education Fund. Presenting these prestigious awards were Christie Hefner, chair of Hatch Beauty; Cathy Baron Tamraz, Chair and CEO of Business Wire; and 2016 Tony Award winner for “Hamilton,” Renée Elise Goldsberry and costar Jasmine Cephas Jones. Because this organization is no ordinary organization and this award is no ordinary award, it goes without saying, this luncheon was not an ordinary luncheon. A conversation with the honorees led by Paula Zahn provided informative entertainment as the conversation focused on leadership and the wide range of issues facing women in today’s workforce.
As we slowly saunter through July, I am constantly thinking back to the Fourth and reflecting on what Independence Day is really about, why it was created in the first place and what has happened along the way. The Declaration of Independence really is a beautiful document. If only America would abide by it, and let their actions show that all men (and women) are created equal. How do we stop police brutality, lone-wolf terrorist, bigotry, hatred and ignorance?
I saw a photo that wish I could reproduce, but unfortunately copyright laws prohibit me from doing so. Imagine the scene, however, if you will. Taken from the Brooklyn waterfront looking west at lower Manhattan, the photo captured the fireworks bursting in the night’s dark sky. There, standing tall and shimmering in its light, in the midst of it all, is the Statue of Liberty. Boats dot the water as does hundreds of tiny lights, scattered through the crowd that is watching along the Battery Park City esplanade, with the lights beaming from the windows of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, looming large off to the right. The photo is dated July 4, 1976.
What a time in history that was. The country was dealing with the Vietnam War and the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, Malcolm X and Dr. King. If those weren’t enough, the White House was rife with corruption. There was Watergate, which finally brought the resignation of Richard M. Nixon but not before Spiro Agnew resigned from the office of vice president while being investigated by the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland on charges of extortion, tax fraud, bribery and conspiracy. Agnew was also charged with having accepted bribes totaling more than $100,000 while holding office as Baltimore County executive. I was way too young to understand these events at the time they occurred, and as I read of them now, I can’t believe the audacity of it all.
On a more hopeful note, bookending this time of despair was the July 1976 Bicentennial in the United States, and the emergence of a peanut farmer from Georgia who introduced himself by saying, “Hello! My name is Jimmy Carter, I’m running for president.”
A lot has changed since then. In your view, is it better or worse? And where do we go from here?
Until next week … kisses.