Social - The Scene

So... On Friday evening, July 27, Gina attended “Light up the Night,” at Saratoga National Golf Course… a benefit for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Albany Medical Center. The lovely Amy Raimo, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations greeted eveyone as fabulous food by Mazzone Management at the Club and the music of The Refrigerators was enjoyed by all... In the doctorly crowd was seen title sponsor, MVP CEO, David Oliker, who enjoyed the ambiance, honorary chairs, Dr. Vincent and Mrs. Lou-Ann Verdile, David and Andrea Golub, the beautiful Sally King and Larry King.

Amy explained that with nearly 65,000 visits annually - and serving as the region’s only state-designated Level 1 trauma center - the Emergency Department at Albany Medical Center is a vital community resource, providing advanced life-saving care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We’re the Hospitals’ ‘Hospital’ and Saratoga is ranked third in total volume transfers, representing 7 percent of all transfer volume. It means Saratoga’s emergency transfers are up significantly more because it is growing so rapidly and it needs to keep up with its community’s needs. Albany Med is the only hospital in 25 counties that has the Albany Med-Flight Helicopter/ transport capabilities. This event is always very successful and we look forward to seeing more Saratoga people attend each year.” Learning all of this from Amy made it even more exciting to meet Mara McErlean, the Director of Albany Med’s Emergency Department who shared with Amy and I that there were significantly more Emergency Department transfers - up 85 percent from 2006... I think more Saratogians need to attend this event next year... we all might need their help some day.

The scene was Vapor, it was the coolest night in Saratoga, it was “Wednesday Night Fever,” a benefit for the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, where proceeds will be used to fund the Electronic Medical Records System. Mary Gavin and Margie Rotchford were co-chairs... Margie was dressed in Disco Cool, “Dolce Jovani” by The Trunk... a human Disco Ball, silver pailettes, scintillating... The Saratoga Hospital Gala raised more than $435,000, a record amount of $$$$ thanks to the generosity of its attendees.... There had to be more than 800, close to 900 people there... it was a fantastic night of enthusiastic bidding and everyone loved it!

“I felt the electricity of the night through every pore of my body. I had tears in my eyes more than once during the night because I was so overwhelmed!”... Margie was not the only one overwhelmed... Beth Alexander, owner of Hattie’s Restaurant, looked fabulous in Kay Unger, and WON in fierce bidding... the Ballroom Dance Lessons from Arthur Murray and a Party Dress from Saratoga Trunk!… Kristina Krawchuk, of KKrawchuk Image Media (you know her as having been the gorgeous Anchor on Channel News 9, and The Dine on 9 Series) ... well, Kristina joined Margie in sparkle and glamour, wearing a gold sequin dress from Marc Bouwer ... these ladies are human sparklers!!

OOLALA… Gina wanted so badly to win the One of a Kind Couture Evening Gown donated by Staci Snider, that incredible designer, you know, she is with the lovely Beth Harr at Aggies often, but she didn’t know she bid and won an oil painting instead... (but I can’t wear it!!)... Gina got to see and talk briefly with the grand dame of Saratoga, Marylou, distinctly inimitable... looking ever so, so lovely... overall the event topped itself again from last year with more donations, more $$$$$ for live auctions... just MORE, MORE, MORE... (maybe because people like Mrs. Rotchford “beseech and implore” very very well... hmmmmm)...

OOLALA... Gina’s most favorite event was zi “Old Bags Luncheon” ...hahaha... yes, there are some there too! tee hee.... held Friday, Aug. 3, at the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa... Event chairs were Anne Campbell (who spoke so articulately about the Metro NY Division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America and all of the stable area workers at the New York Racing Association)... and Margie Rotchford (where does this dynamo get her energy?)...

Simply amazing donations were made by Jo Ann Oreffice (looking exuberant in her Red Chapeau by Terri Gabriel, Milano, from the Trunk), Michele Riggi, always sooo appropriately and elegantly attired, wearing a cream pillbox of Le Beau Chapeau... Agatha Benton, a gorgeous and generous “gem” of a lady, in multi reds, the exciting and glamourous Julie Bonacio, in chocolate silk taffeta Teri Jon, with a frothy plummaged hat by Nancy Matt, (whose hat exhibit drew women for hours looking for their best bet for a hat!)... Beth Alexander looked beautiful in her beaded and lace Tadashi with hat by Nigel while her lovely mother, Kathleen Monacco evoked the 50s perfectly in pillbox and pearls... Kristina Krawchuk played roving reporter and announcer “Special K” in a sexy animal print dress from Saratoga Trunk and cocktail hat from Le Beau, keeping the ladies moving along and the bidding fast and furious.. Seen in the crowd were a bevy of “Trunkettes,” Luci Treffiletti (always accessorized so well), Suzanne Allrich (in pink python silk Flores & Flores), Jayne McCarthy (looking fabu in Nicole Miller chartreuse), Debra Perez (in champagne Chetta B), Joanne Finn (looking amazing in Cattiva by Peter Martin), and Saratoga Trunks’ models for the day, the Baroness von Ferg, who previewed Teri Jon’s fall in chocolate silk with Zelda’s silver threaded coat, and Amy Raimo, in slate and silvery Zelda leather... Margie Rotchford’s energy spilled into her sunshine silk shirtdress by Teri Jon, only topped by her magnificent black ostrich hat by Kokin, as she thanked everyone and introduced special guest Taryn Rose, a surgeon turned shoe designer (doing 400 million a year!)...

Taryn graciously donated a Grand Raffle Prize of $1,500 collection of shoes and a $2,500 alligator clutch!... (Saratoga Trunk held and still has a Taryn Rose Trunk Show going on... with proceeds benefiting the event... as well as having Peter Ciesla, with Bazyli Jewelry at the luncheon and the show)...

The pretty and perky Kimberly Adams Russell had her Frank Adams exhibit there with their signature diamonds and “must have jewelry”... can’t wait for the new store to open in the fall on Division Street... With KKrawchuk Media promoting them, they can’t miss!

As per chairwoman, Margie Rotchford, “The Big Pink Pocketbook” which served as our cocktail hour podium was a great addition to the 1950s decor by Richard Roe and Duncan Morrison. Taryn Rose spoke so eloquently and inspirationally after lunch... and no one runs a fashion show like the fabulous Natalie Sillery (invoking Coco Chanel in black and white polka dots and custom hat by Nancy)... “Having several of the boutiques of Saratoga in the show was a first and everyone loved it! I love being able to help put together these and other fantastic events, and I love putting together terrific and enticing Live Auction packages, and I love going to these parties and meeting fabulous people, and I love love love living in Saratoga Springs!”...

OOLALA, no? Gina feels very blessed also to participate in the vitality of our special Spa City... Gina has sooo much more to tell you about next week!!! In zi meantime, OOLALA !!!