Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation Breakthrough Ball Gala Event

Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation Breakthrough Ball Gala

Honoring Leyla Aliyeva, Muffie Potter Aston, and Buddy Valastro

The Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation (CCBF) will host its annual “Breakthrough Ball” benefit gala on Tuesday evening, November 1st, 2011 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Proceeds from this benefit help to provide much needed medication, chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments to children at the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center.

The coveted “Key to Life” award will be presented to Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Founder of IDEA Environment Campaign. Joining her will be the “Breakthrough Spirit” award recipients Muffie Potter Aston, Humanitarian and Philanthropist and Buddy Valastro, Master Cake Decorator and Star of the Hit TLC Reality Show, who will be awarded for their inspirational dedication to supporting children in need. Past “Breakthrough Ball” honorees include Katie Couric, Ted Turner, Toni Braxton, Tiki Barber, Trent Tucker and HRH Princess Ghida Talal of Jordan. The evening will also include a special performance by popular a capella group, Straight No Chaser.

Jamie Niven, Vice Chairman, Sotheby’s will lead a live auction that will feature, among other packages, Super Bowl XLVI Tickets, a Fashion Trip to Paris and a Hampton’s Golf Package with tee-offs at the Hampton’s most exclusive and highly rated courses including Shinnecock Hills, Atlantic, The Bridge and Maidstone. The live auction concludes with a pledge item that gives guests the opportunity to support a child’s chemotherapy treatment for a year.

For nearly 60 years, CCBF has been proud to support the extraordinary team of doctors and researchers of the Division. CCBF’s support has attracted and retained a group of world-renowned experts on the treatment of multiple pediatric blood disorders and cancers, including hemophilia, sickle-cell anemia and leukemia. CCBF researchers have received international recognition for their work and are on the cusp of breakthroughs predicted to change the way the medical community treats children with cancer and blood diseases. Each year, physicians treat more than 1,000 children through more than 10,000 inpatient and outpatient visits. No child is ever turned away for services, regardless of his or her ability to pay.

Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation Breakthrough Ball Gala Event http://www.childrenscbf.org/

The Plaza Hotel
768 5th Avenue, New York
(212) 546-5300

Sometimes Money is Just Money

I must admit that I am not the greatest art enthusiast; however I do believe that the most salient art is the type that has the ability to be the most interchangeable, so that every viewer can relate it to his/ or her own personal experience(s) or identity. And where installation art is concerned, some of it tends to be a little to abstract and obscure for my overly pragmatic mind and my unnerving need to find practicality in everything.

So when I read about the Hans-Peter Feldmann’s $100,000 Hugo Boss Prize awarded for 2010, which was turned into a art installation and on exhibit at the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum from May 20, 2011 to November 2, 2011- Yes, I finally got around to viewing it and writing a blog about it, better late than never, besides I wanted my opportunity to weigh in on this presentation.

Hans-Peter Feldmann is a 70 year old German artist who has made his staple in the conceptual art movement (for those who are unaware, conceptual art embraces the notion or ideology of the art as more prevalent than simply being pleasing to the eye). His work began in the late 60’s and expands through today. His repertoire of work spans from paintings, photography and installation as well as publications. In commemoration of the longevity and admiration of his work he was awarded.

The exhibit presents 100,000 one dollar bills pinned to a large airy room with columns leaving every space completely wallpapered in money. It took nearly two weeks and approximately nine assistants to create. The bills are displayed face up or down in a random pattern which overlap each other.

The art is meant to question the parallels of value and art. Dollar bills are simply pieces of paper as it’s attached to a wall but outside of that room essential reigns supreme in a capitalist environment. Let me just say that I love money and I hope to acquire a lot more of it in my life. I definitely recommend seeing the exhibit because it is a sight that you may never see again in your life; however I do not know that the message was properly relayed as it was meant. Without disrespect, I find the aesthetic to be astounding but it overshadows Mr. Feldmann’s message to the public; and therefore making the art not so conceptual. As such, I have sided with Karen Rosenberg’s June 22nd review in the New York Times entitled “Spendable Art That’s Not for Sale” (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/arts/design/hans-peter-feldmann-at-the-guggenheim-review.html)

Hugo Boss Prize 2010: Hans-Peter Feldmann
On display through 11/9/2011
Solomon R Guggenheim Museum
101 5th Avenue
(Corner of 5th and 89th Street)
212-423-3500

Off The Rails

One of the great novelties of New York City living is the turnover of businesses that come through like a whirlwind. Unfortunately, lately I have grown more accustomed to seeing establishments leave the neighborhood due to all the construction. But in this entry of Upper East Side Informer, I am happy to introduce a new local hang out to my fellow Upper Eastsiders…Off the Rails.


The exposed brick, open front and mahogany bar may add to the appeal but not the uniqueness of this bar. A concept, which is rare in this neighborhood but not uncommon in other parts of the city, is that this bar actually has a DJ and not a jukebox that plays the latest hits from lame and lamer. This feature adds an element of liveliness and action, which sets it apart from the rest.

If that doesn’t encourage you to come, maybe the unpredictable crowd will. You can enjoy a low key night on Second Avenue with exceptional cocktails made to your liking by experienced bartenders, come into an atmosphere where girls dance on bar-tops and do body shots across the bar, giving Coyote Ugly a run for its money. A night at Off the Rails is a gamble but the odds are win-win.

Notable too is the friendliness of both the patrons and the barkeeps, some of whom speak in a charming brogue. Our local friendly DJ came in, instantly recognizable with his easygoing smile and manner. Watching him shake the hand of the man behind the bar, I got the sense that while OTR may not be “Cheers,” it definitely has that intimate feeling that a bar with recurring clientele can afford. At the same time, people coming in for the first time are equally treated to a smile and a frank assessment of what beers are good.

In summation OTR, is a great alternative to the Yorkville nightlife scene (that is generally Manny’s) and is increasingly becoming my favorite new resident spot. Whether you live nearby or if you just come to UES to experience one of the many fine restaurants and enjoy a cocktail out, this pick definitely gets my recommendation.

Off the Rails

1754 2^nd Avenue

New York, NY

212-369-1900

http://www.offtherailsnyc.com

http://www.facebook.com/OffTheRailsNYC

TwitterID: OffTheRailsNYC