On the night of May 4, 2013, when Gold Gala guests walked past the Aston Martin parked under the portico at Hempstead House and entered its magnificent 80-foot-high foyer, they stopped in their tracks at the site of a gold-painted beauty strewn across a circular bed reminiscent of the shocking murder scene in the 1964 Bond film, Goldfinger. There could be no doubt that this was going to be an interesting night – a unique blend of ‘Bond, James Bond’ intrigue and sensuality – and Gold Coast opulence.
Friends of the Sands Point Preserve’s Fifth Annual Preservers’ Celebration was filled with decadent treats – a tribute to the lavish Gatsby-era parties that defined the 1920s Gold Coast social scene. Hempstead House looked spectacularly beautiful, dramatically lit and decorated for the night. The library was transformed into a casino, equipped with handsome croupiers under red lighting; DJ Afro played a great Latin jazz mix, interweaving all of the famous Bonds songs, including the Goldfinger theme song performed by a perfect Shirley Bassey impersonator. Bond’s archenemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s white Turkish Angora cat was seen curled up on a dining table in the Palm Court. A Grace Jones impersonator worked the crowd in her trademark hooded jumpsuit while the “Gouldfinger Girls” strutted through the party wearing little more than their golden spray paint – Howard Gould, the original owner of Castle Gould and Hempstead House, would have adored them.
In the summer living room, themed food stations were inspired by several of the classic Bond films: For Your Eyes Only (Greek foods); Octopussy (Cuban foods); The Spy Who Loved Me (Moroccan foods); and Moonraker (all French desserts). On the Martini Bar in the winter living room, the signature cocktail was the Vesper Martini from Casino Royale – ‘shaken, not stirred…’
Friends Chairman Karli Hagedorn said, “We have a terrific time creating the Preservers’ Celebrations – they are always magical and a little eccentric – in a style that lives up to the glamorous parties of the 1920s Gold Coast. In the five years since Friends of the Sands Point Preserve was entrusted by Nassau County to oversee the Preserve’s operations, we’ve accomplished a great deal in terms of environmental conservation, restoration of the historic mansions as well as educational and cultural programming – but we have much more to do. We sincerely appreciate all of the corporate and community support that we receive through these annual events – as well as Annual Memberships and Program Sponsorships.”
The Gold Gala Honorees were Edie Katz, Patrick J. Gannon, PhD, and Nancy Kheck, PhD – also known as “The BeeWhisperers of the Gold Coast” for their extensive honeybee research and educational programs in a time of global crisis for honeybee colonies. According to Friends’ Executive Director Jean-Marie Posner, “We created the apiary and the Bee-Whispering educational program to support local honeybee colonies and encourage their beneficial effects on our environment. Our goal is to educate the community about the importance of preserving honeybees through the global ‘colony collapse’ epidemic that is having a disastrous affect on the species. We are very grateful to all of our honorees for the tremendous work they done have to establish this important program at the Preserve.” The 2013 Preservers’ Awards of Distinction went to three outstanding medical students currently in their third year at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine – Alexander “A.J.” Blood, Matthew Katz, and Branson Sparks – recognized for their voluntary work at the Sands Point Preserve to help establish and maintain the Bee Apiary.
The Gold Gala benefited cultural arts programming at the Preserve – the range of programs includes Summer Opera with the North Shore Music Festival; outdoor music concerts overlooking the Long Island Sound; delightful cabaret and jazz evenings with top talent created by composer Steven Lutvak; visual and decorative arts exhibitions; and Design House International’s upcoming showcase at Hempstead House in November, 2013. Most recently, Starry Night of Cabaret on April 6th featured three phenomenal Broadway singers – Erin Davie, Sally Mayes, and James Snyder – who, together with Steven Lutvak, completely enchanted a sold-out audience. With a delectable seated dinner, this event established the Great Hall as a perfect supper club – an outstanding music and dining venue that can compete with Michael’s Pub and the Algonquin. Other world-class performers who have appeared at the Preserve include Chuck Close, Tina Fabrique, Wells Hanley, Rebecca Luker, Michael McElroy, Kendra Shank, among others.
This exciting week continued with the Gold Coast International Film Festival’s screening party for the pre-world release showing of Baz Lurhmann’s “The Great Gatsby” starring Leonardo DiCaprio on May 8th. When Lurhmann introduced the film to an invitation-only audience at Soundview Cinemas, he credited Hempstead House – the magnificent structure and its beautiful views of the Long Island Sound – among the North Shore estates that inspired the film visually. Hempstead House was selected as the party site for 300 guests because it is the real thing – a true Gatsby-era mansion where the Guggenheim’s magical lifestyle existed – and continues to flourish through the work of the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve.
For more information about programs and events at the Sands Point Preserve, please call 516-571-7901, email info@friendsspp.org, see www.thesandspointpreserve.com or stop by the Gate House at 127 Middle Neck Road in Sands Point, New York, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Friends of the Sands Point Preserve is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions and to provide educational programs for families and schools in the Phil Dejana Learning Center and Outdoor Classroom.
