Magic Shows and Inner Beauty – The New York Times
Posted By admin on December 18, 2020
With the New York charity circuit on hiatus, here is how some philanthropists and society figures are spending their time and resources during the coronavirus crisis.
Age: 72
Occupation: author, fashion journalist
Favorite Charity: Housing Works
Where have you been sheltering?
Ive been in my house in White Plains. Its an old house, you can feel a chill. But it is my sanctuary. Im happy to get up in the morning, go downstairs and try to have a bowl of oatmeal with strawberries. Then I open my Amazon boxes to see which new books have arrived.
Is reading a refuge for you, or an escape?
Books are my saving grace. Promised Land is here on my table. So is Shear Elegance, a visual history of the life of Kenneth Battelle and his salon in a townhouse on East 54th Street. The 60s were all about Kenneth and his relationships with clients like Jackie Kennedy and the former Vogue editors Polly Mellen and Babs Simpson.
Your recent memoir, Chiffon Trenches, was a best seller. Why do you think it resonated?
I wanted to write a sincere book. I didnt want to hold back. It was written out of pain and joy. Readers responded to that. People thought it would be a condemnation of Vogue. But it wasnt that at all.
You had some damning things to say about Anna Wintour. Has your perspective changed?
In this serious moment of the pandemic and upheaval, Anna is flying high. She put Lizzo on Vogues cover and, this month, Harry Styles wearing a Gucci dress. She is creating a series of firsts and being first is what Vogue is all about.
What are you looking forward to after the pandemic?
Ill be happy to go to restaurants, to see my friends for lunch at Sant Ambroeus and Majorelle. I look forward to visiting some of my favorite stores, John Derian, Sprouse and Rizzoli. I havent been in a store since February. I miss those things.
You spoke feelingly during the Housing Works virtual gala last month about the election. What prompted that?
For those of us suffering the gravity of the pandemic and the tragedy of George Floyd, this years brightest moment was the election. I dont care how much stress you were under. For many of us, the albatross weve carried for four years is gone.
Age: 27
Occupation: actress, singer
Favorite Charity: Unicef
Where have you been hunkering down?
Socially, Im fully quarantined. Im in lockdown with my sister Paulina in Los Angeles. Our family has been separated. My parents live in Florida. The distance has been difficult and painful. But my sister and I have each other. Its a blessing.
You were part of the Unicef Changemaker benefit this month. What was a highlight for you?
I performed a song that I learned when I was 8, Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Ive always loved a rainbow. It will be forever natures universal symbol of hope. We raised over $5 million that night for children suffering this pandemic.
How did you come by your sense of social responsibility?
I got it from my mother. When I was 10, she took my sister and me to a shelter for battered women in Colombia. While we were there, I met an 11-year-old girl, Maria. She had just given birth to her stepfathers child. That put everything in perspective for me. Children became a priority. I made a promise to myself that if one day I was fortunate enough to have a platform, I would use it to give back.
You recently became a global ambassador for Revlon. What do you hope to accomplish?
This relationship isnt about physical beauty its about encouraging young women to be bold, to celebrate women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and backgrounds.
Are you celebrating your Hispanic heritage?
Until recently, I traveled a lot. I loved when I met girls in Mexico, Argentina and Spain. I love being able to speak to them in Spanish. I was at a premiere in Mexico and I heard a little girl at that event tell her mother, See, she looks like me. Representing my heritage is the most important role that I will ever play.
What inspires you now?
We shot Songbird. That experience heightened everything, because we were shooting a story about a pandemic during a pandemic. I got to channel all my fears into this film. We did find ways of keeping safe. When we werent in front of the camera, everyone wore masks and shields. We were tested during filming four or five times a week. It was all worth it. When times are painful, we gravitate to the arts.
Age: 78
Occupation: shoe company founder, entrepreneur
Favorite charities: World Monuments Fund; New-York Historical Society; National Museum of American Jewish History
Where have you been staying?
Ive been in Greenwich, Conn., with my wife, Jane. She is very cautious. She wont even go down the road to get the mail. I tell her, If I survive this thing, honey, its going to be thanks to you. As for me, I dont have any trouble being entertained. This is a very rural community. We see deer. I have a horseshoe pit in my backyard. I play tennis a couple of times a month. I cant wait till they get some snow in Vermont. Im going to head there and do some skiing.
What was the high point of your work with the World Monuments Fund?
That experience goes back eight or 10 years. The cultural minister of Cantabria, Spain, took me through the cave of La Garma. We were privileged. I realized that most people are not going to be able to visit; its too fragile for that. Human existence goes back 300,000 years in this cave.
What most impressed you?
The wall paintings arent primitive. There is taste and human expression. After seeing the art on these walls, I realized that everything since then is decadent. To make it visible to the public, we made an immersive virtual video that was shown at the funds 55th anniversary gala.
You sold your shoe company several years ago to Tapestry. How are you spending your time?
When you havent got a business to run, theres a lot you can do. Two or three times a month I lecture kids in design school about entrepreneurship and starting a business. With my partner Barbara Kreger, Im sponsoring a David Copperfield show at the National Museum of American Jewish Heritage. Copperfield claims to know all of Harry Houdinis tricks, and hes going to perform them on Saturday night. That will help me enjoy my evening. I dont want to be tied to Netflix.
What will your life be like once this pandemic subsides?
Ive got seven ribbons on my fingers reminding me, Dont do this. Be careful of that. Ill be happy not worrying about whatever I do, wherever I go, every moment of the day. For now, I keep telling myself, If you want to be here tomorrow, youve got to play the game.
Interviews have been edited.
Go here to read the rest:
Magic Shows and Inner Beauty - The New York Times
- What's Happening Week of Feb. 28 | What's Happening - The Almanac - February 26th, 2021
- Does the grand jury system work in officer-involved shootings? The Wake Up for Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 - cleveland.com - February 26th, 2021
- Access and opportunity for people with special needs in Israel - The Jerusalem Post - February 21st, 2021
- Celebrating 1,700 years of Jewish life in Germany - DW (English) - February 21st, 2021
- Despite the Court Ruling, the EU is Still Committed to Ensuring Jewish life in Europe - The Media Line - February 12th, 2021
- Celebrating Judaism at home is a pandemic silver lining - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - February 12th, 2021
- Gay, black Elon rabbi to take job that seeks diversity within Jewish faith - Burlington Times News - February 12th, 2021
- More Israelis are learning to speak Arabic than ever before - The Jerusalem Post - February 12th, 2021
- 20-Year-Old Jewish baseball phenom eyes stardom in Cleveland - Forward - February 9th, 2021
- "Andrea Dworkin: The Feminist as Revolutionary" Gives the Groundbreaking Feminist Her Due - Ms. Magazine - February 9th, 2021
- BET Joins Forces With Together Beat Hate For National Religious Freedom Day And Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.... - BET - January 24th, 2021
- Meet the Israelis reaching out to the Arab world online - Jewish News - January 24th, 2021
- Among Marginalized Voices at Upcoming Theater Festival: Conservatives - Heritage.org - January 18th, 2021
- The BroadsheetDAILY ~ 1/14/21 ~ State Extends, Expands Eviction and Foreclosure Bans Credited with Saving Thousands of Lives - ebroadsheet.com - January 18th, 2021
- Zac Posen, Andy Cohen Explore Jewish Ancestry on 'Finding Your Roots' - Jewish Journal - January 14th, 2021
- Before Sheldon Adelsons death, his relationships soured with both Netanyahu and Trump - Forward - January 14th, 2021
- Celebrate MLK Day online and in person at the reopening of Maltz Museum: Valley Views - cleveland.com - January 14th, 2021
- Art Industry News: Financiers Are Investing Piles of Cash Into Immersive Art Centers Following Mass Layoffs in the Sector + Other Stories - artnet... - January 14th, 2021
- Georgias Senate runoffs: All the Jewish drama from a charged campaign - The Times of Israel - January 6th, 2021
- Its being treated like a war: Israels rapid Covid-19 vaccination drive - The Irish Times - January 4th, 2021
- Oakland County community calendar Jan. 3 and beyond - The Oakland Press - January 4th, 2021
- This customized van is helping UK Holocaust survivors record their stories during the pandemic - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - January 4th, 2021
- Anonymous benefactor assures success of Cliftonville Save Our Shul campaign - The Isle of Thanet News - January 4th, 2021
- Museum Of Jewish Heritage " A Living Memorial To The Holocaust Pivoting To Provide Production Space In 2021 - Broadway World - December 22nd, 2020
- What the Holidays Mean to Me: Community partners share the importance of this season - LouisvilleKy.gov - December 22nd, 2020
- Looking back at 2020, a year like no other in the museums and heritage sector - Museums + Heritage Advisor - December 22nd, 2020
- Pastors: Kelly Loeffler's Smear Of Rev. Raphael Warnock Is Broad Assault On The Black Church - HuffPost - December 22nd, 2020
- Islam must adopt the Moroccan model - The Spectator US - December 18th, 2020
- Security Industry Mourns the Loss of Bob Harris - Security Sales & Integration - December 18th, 2020
- My Word: Forgotten refugees and the proud Mizrahi heritage - The Jerusalem Post - December 5th, 2020
- Feed the Body and Mind During Hanukkah - Santa Barbara Independent - December 5th, 2020
- The UAE Is Rejecting Doublethink on Israel Will It Last? - National Review - December 5th, 2020
- Demonstrating Compassion in our Responses and Actions - Atlanta Jewish Times - November 21st, 2020
- This non-Jewish leader is working to clean up Polands Jewish cemeteries - The Jerusalem Post - November 21st, 2020
- What to do this Weekend: Nov 18-22 - Nob Hill Gazette - November 21st, 2020
- The BroadsheetDAILY ~ 11/19/20 ~ Homeless for the Holidays Judge Will Rule Next Monday on Whether to Allow FiDi Shelter Plans - ebroadsheet.com - November 21st, 2020
- Georgia Writers Hall Of Fame Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary In Honor Of The State's Literary Legends - WABE 90.1 FM - November 21st, 2020
- Ahead of November election, growing numbers of Jews consider leaving US - The Times of Israel - October 4th, 2020
- 'The regime has no real choice but to let the victors rule' - Cleveland Jewish News - October 4th, 2020
- Celebrating Bess Myerson, The One and Only Jewish Miss America - The Jerusalem Post - September 29th, 2020
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Exploring The Connection Between Latin Americans And Judaism - CBS New York - September 25th, 2020
- Survey: 13% of NJ's young adults think Jews caused the Holocaust - New Jersey 101.5 FM Radio - September 23rd, 2020
- Coronavirus crisis is testing the resilience of Europe's small Jewish communities - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - September 23rd, 2020
- Coronavirus is testing the resilience of Europes small Jewish communities - The Jerusalem Post - September 23rd, 2020
- When RBG came to see Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish - Forward - September 23rd, 2020
- Some Cuyahoga County residents would have to travel 90 minutes to use the countys only ballot drop box: The - cleveland.com - September 23rd, 2020
- Limited by COVID-19, Jewish community finds ways to keep traditions alive, connections strong - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - September 23rd, 2020
- Rosh Hashana in the Pandemic: Rabbis, Cantors and Video Crews - The New York Times - September 19th, 2020
- Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage reopens to the public today - WJW FOX 8 News Cleveland - August 26th, 2020
- Words, like sticks and stones, can hurt us - The Jewish Star - August 26th, 2020
- Here's a list of fall festivals that are canceled or will be virtual due to COVID-19 - Corpus Christi Caller-Times - August 26th, 2020
- Love and Courage, or On Being a Literary Editor in Today's Istanbul: A Conversation with Mustafa evikdoan and Mehmet Erte - lareviewofbooks - August 26th, 2020
- 15 women from York County's past who influenced, inspired and created change - York Daily Record - August 26th, 2020
- Prerecorded services, backyard worship, a drive-in: High Holidays during a pandemic - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 22nd, 2020
- This weekend, the Netanyahu family is set to decide if Israel is going to election - Haaretz - August 22nd, 2020
- When You're Outnumbered: Lessons from Two British Masters of Irregular Warfare - War on the Rocks - August 22nd, 2020
- Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage will reopen to the public this month - Crain's Cleveland Business - August 12th, 2020
- Kazakhstan adds Chabad leader's grave to its list of national heritage sites - Jewish News - August 12th, 2020
- Learn to spot a fake photo and see gas giants in the solar system: Valley Views - cleveland.com - August 12th, 2020
- Dropping the hyphen: Why this publication is changing its spelling of antisemitism - The Jewish News of Northern California - August 12th, 2020
- Online Learning, High Impact Programming, Caring Communities, and the Family are Keys to Jewish Education Success and Living a Values-Oriented Life -... - August 12th, 2020
- Young couples find love in Israel on the Masa program - The Jerusalem Post - August 12th, 2020
- This Month in Milwaukee: 16 Things to Do in August 2020 - Shepherd Express - August 12th, 2020
- The pandemic put Phoenixs Jewish mayor in the spotlight. Shes walking a tightrope. - Forward - August 4th, 2020
- A town celebrated for its heritage is urged to look at the history it's ignored - CBC.ca - August 4th, 2020
- Twitter Finally Bans the Nazi. No, Not That One. No, the Other One. - Gizmodo - August 4th, 2020
- Things To Do This Week - The New York Times - August 2nd, 2020
- Twitter Finally Bans the Nazi. No, Not That One. No, the Other One. - Gizmodo Australia - August 2nd, 2020
- The Hagia Sophia as a palimpsest: Memories of the monument in five acts - Scroll.in - August 2nd, 2020
- 'Chaos' at Victoria's Epping Gardens: how privatised aged care has failed during the coronavirus pandemic - The Guardian - August 2nd, 2020
- The day after: Israel may be the exception to a COVID-19 baby bust - Haaretz.com - August 2nd, 2020
- The Path to the Great Jewish Twitter Walkout - The Times of Israel - July 27th, 2020
- Mel Gibson was hospitalised after being diagnosed with coronavirus in April - NME.com - July 27th, 2020
- Phil Jones | Remember the 43 Group LRB 23 July 2020 - London Review of Books - July 27th, 2020
- Mel Gibson was in hospital with coronavirus in April - The Independent - July 27th, 2020
- Things to Do: Upcoming Food and Drink Events in Houston This Week - Houston Press - July 27th, 2020
- Stephen Miller's Grandmother Died of COVID-19. Her Son Blames the Trump Administration. - Mother Jones - July 27th, 2020
- The conflicted uncertainty of Pandemic Soccer - Pittsburgh Soccer Now - July 27th, 2020
- COVID-19 hits one in six Iowa nursing homes but inspectors cite few violations - Le Mars Daily Sentinel - July 27th, 2020
- Av: Disaster and Consolation - The Jewish Voice - July 17th, 2020
Comments