A Dinner Supporting the Hetrick-Martin Institute

June 22, 2018

A Dinner Supporting the Hetrick-Martin Institute

I love entertaining outdoors, especially when it’s for a good cause.

Last weekend, at the East Hampton, New York home of my friends and neighbors, Lisa and James Cohen, I co-hosted a lovely party for a group of more than 500-supporters of the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization. James and Lisa have opened their home for the annual HMI “School’s Out” benefit for several years, but this year, aside from a wonderful outdoor sit-down dinner, they added an art and design auction to the evening gathering. I was so happy to take part in this fun and successful event.

Enjoy these photos.

: As co-hosts, Kevin and I were asked to design the table decor. We chose a simple palette of green and gray to accent the long white tables. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: As you know, Kevin and I are both fond of faux bois and chose to fill these faux bois planters with various ferns, alocacias and succulents.

: Plants lined the center of each dinner table. It looked so elegant along with the votives, green goblets and white table settings. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Here is a lovely snapshot of our hosts, James and Lisa Cohen, in front of their beautiful home. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: The cocktail party and sit-down dinner were held outside on the lawn. This is the fourth year that Lisa and James have hosted HMI’s annual Hamptons event.

: The gathering is a huge team effort. The names of everyone who co-hosted the dinner and who contribute their time to the HMI Institute were displayed for all the guests to see. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Hanging above the tables were sculptural steel chandeliers by artisans at the Hubbardton Forge workshop in Vermont. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Simple place cards directed all the guests to their seats.

: Here is one of the small succulents potted in a faux bois container. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: My friend and longtime publicist, Susan Magrino, also attended the event with her husband, James Dunning Jr. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Here is a photo of HMI’s CEO, Thomas Krever, Lisa, and dinner co-hosts including Tracy Anderson. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: The event also included an art and design auction featuring donated pieces of art. Here are two of the auction pieces by Stephanie Hirsch and Federico de Francesco. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Some of the artwork also included painted ceramics. The auction was managed by Natasha Schlesinger of ArtMuse. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: And here is a long table displaying more donated art – it was great to see so many submissions. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: The guests were very energetic and enjoyed the auction – it was a great success. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Lisa said a few words welcoming everyone to her home. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: Thomas also addressed the group and thanked everyone for their participation. (Photo by Carl Timpone/BFA.com)

: The menu was filled with fresh, local produce including farm stand crudité, roasted diablo chicken, grilled tilefish over ratatouille, Gigli pasta and macarons, cookies and fruit for dessert – all donated by Lulu Kitchen and Bar in Sag Harbor, New York.