(Long Island, NY) Every year New Yorkers and Long Islanders put on their most outrageous costumes and trek to Manhattan to celebrate Halloween. Manhattanites just love to dress in their own extravagant creations and walk in the Halloween Parade in lower Manhattan. This year was no exception. I of course was invited to attend some really wonderful over the top events and Halloween parties. This year I was especially happy to attend the Bette Midler’s Hulaween New York Restoration Project Benefit Gala at the beautiful historic hotel The Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
Each year she hosts this spectacular event to raise funds to restore New York’s Parks. I had a chance to interview Ms. Midler as she spoke to me about how important that every community in New York City deserves an oasis of natural beauty. “Bette darling, tell us about NYRP and how important is it to the community”, I asked. Ms. Midler adamantly replied, “NYRP joins in partnership with community-based groups, individuals and public serviced agencies to restore community gardens, under-resourced parks and wide open spaces in the city of New York”.
Cognac Wellerlane at Bette Midler’s Hulaween New York Restoration Project Benefit Gala in New York City
Upon moving to New York City Ms. Midler was extremely disappointed in the appearance of New York City parks. She was so upset with what she saw. People throwing garbage out the window, leaving dirty lunch bags on the ground. She finally realized that she had to do something about all of this – even if she manually had to clean up the garbage herself. In 1995 talented renowned entertainer Ms. Bette Midler decided to establish the nonprofit New York Restoration Project (NYRP). NYRP focus is that clean and green neighborhoods are an important element to the quality of New York City life and that every community deserves on oasis of perfect natural beauty.
In partnership with city, state, and federal agencies—notably the AmeriCorps program—NYRP has accomplished a great deal in just a little under a decade. NYRP has moved over 80,000 tons of garbage from project sites; rescued scores of community gardens and parks from commercial development, served over 5,000 at-risk urban youngsters with free recreational and environmental education programs, reclaimed more than 400 acres of under-resourced and abandoned parkland along the banks of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers. NYRP has also created the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse and Swindler Cove Park, a magnificent five-acre public park on the site of what was once an illegal dumping ground.
Cognac Wellerlane at Bette Midler’s Hulaween New York Restoration Project Benefit Gala in New York City
Other A-list celebrities that attended the event to show their support and concern were Stevie Nicks who gave a performance, Mr. Willie Nelson who was delighted to receive the Leadership Award, Joy Behar, Martha Stewart, Shalom Harlow, Comedian Margaret Cho and many more. I was happy to chat with Joy Behar who was dressed in costume as Queen Elizabeth and Mr Willie Nelson who expressed how happy and privileged he was to receive this prestigious award. “Mr. Nelson darling, what was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid”? I asked. “The Devil” he so devilishly replied.
For more information about New York Restoration Project please visit www.nyrp.org
I was also delighted to attend The Lotus Halloween Bash presented by Richie Rich of the Heatherettes and Mark Baker with Clark Kent Lily of the Valley and Margalan Gray.
The Gold Rush a weekly Burlesque Dinner Theatre entertained and performed at Lotus with fabulous Burlesque stars Nasty Canasta, Little Brooklyn, Creamy Stevens and Julie Atlas Muz. Another fabulous celebrity that attended the party and enjoyed the evening was famous model Angie Everhart.
Mr. Willie Nelson and Bette Midler at her Hulaween New York Restoration Project Benefit Gala
Afterwards my entourage of entertainment press photographer Shane Gritzinger, publicist Ron Caparella and famous fashion designer Count Vlad of Vladicouture decided to check out Suzanne Bartsch’s event at Avalon but the club was mysteriously shut down with police barricading the entrances and exits. We met up with famous photographer Patrick McMullan who told us to return to Lotus for more photo opportunities where we met up again with Richie Rich of the Heatherettes closing the night with his champagne and cocktail party downstairs.
The night was simply magical!!!
Until my next celebrity event,
