The 2019 Central Park Conservancy "Hat Luncheon"

May 3, 2019

The 2019 Central Park Conservancy "Hat Luncheon"

If my busy schedule allows, I always try to attend the "Hat Luncheon".

This week was the 37th annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon hosted by the Women’s Committee and the Board of Trustees of the Central Park Conservancy. More than a 1200-attendees filled the park’s Conservatory Garden for what is popularly known as the “Hat Luncheon” - a festive affair where guests don their most extravagant chapeaus.

As you may know, Frederick Law Olmsted was an American landscape designer and widely considered the father of American landscape architecture. Olmsted was made famous for co-designing many well-known urban areas including Central Park. This yearly gathering is among the Conservancy’s most important philanthropic events supporting its mission to preserve, maintain and enhance New York’s iconic public green space. Enjoy these photos.

: Here I am in my “hat luncheon” ensemble. See the photo on my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48 to know all about this outfit and the special hat created just for the event.

: I got my hat from Classic Collections in Palm Beach. It was decorated with three different bows layered one on top of the other. Four different types of ribbon were used: thick satin, silk, grosgrain and velvet for the trim. Thin gauge wire was used to maintain the ribbon shape and then small stitches were used to adhere the ribbon to the hat. https://classiccollectionsofpalmbeach.com/

: Waiters in white dinner jackets escorted all the ladies down the steps leading toward the large, white tent where the awards ceremony was held. http://www.centralparknyc.org

: This year, the 37th annual luncheon honored former president of the Women’s Committee Suzie Aijala; the Bloomberg administration’s deputy mayor Patricia E. Harris, and founding member of the Women’s Committee Norma Dana.

: Beautiful floral displays were provided by Andrew Pascoe Flowers, Ltd. in Oyster Bay, New York.

: Here I am smiling for a photo on the steps to the luncheon.

: It was so fun to see others walk down the steps in their creatively designed hats. Here is Fiona Simmonds with a grass hedge shaped like a dog with a pink leash around its neck.

: Everyone wore hats of all sizes and shapes adorned with flowers, feathers, and other embellishments.

: Hats didn’t have to be eccentric to stand out. Here are two more classic chapeaus – one in bold pink with a royal blue ribbon.

: This guest’s hat complemented her dress decorated with a tiger on the back.

: Chateau d’Esclans Whispering Angel flowed freely to all the luncheon guests. https://esclans.com/product/whispering-angel/

: Jennifer Worthington wore this colorful and interesting swan hat.

: Here are my longtime publicists and friends, Susan Magrino and her sister, Allyn Magrino.

: This is the view from above Susan’s black and pink hat. It is adorned with a pink hydrangea she picked from her terrace early that morning. There were so many unique and interesting hats at the event that raised more than four-million dollars for the park.

: The gentlemen guests wore hats too. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg donned this fedora with an orange tag in tribute to honoree Patricia Harris, who brought Christo and Jeanne Claude’s “The Gates” to the park in 2005. Several others behind him had the same idea.

: Two heads are better than one. These hats complemented each other.

: The luncheon was catered by New York City’s Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships. It included chilled asparagus soup, curried chicken or spring garden vegetables with white vinaigrette, and for dessert strawberry shortcake along with petit fours and coffee.

: I captured this photo of the first-course asparagus soup – it was delightful.

: And do you know who is under this red hat?

: It’s my good friend and banker, Jane Heller, who accompanies me to the “hat luncheon” every year. All the tables were set in pretty floral patterns – perfect for spring. Provided by Scalamandre, the tablecloths were also available for sale with proceeds going to the Central Park Conservancy.