Left to right: Aaron Dai, Tom Ashe, Heather Dawson Reed, Amanda Joy Fortier, Stella Kramer, Glenn Reed, Julie Simpkins
Brooklyn, New York, January 11, 2014: My lovely wife Amanda and I enjoy hosting parties throughout the year. This is our fifth year hosting such events, and in January was our first of 2014. We enjoy hosting these kinds of events to cultivate ideas and conversations amongst our friends and embrace diversity. And of course, enjoy great food and libations together!
The first group we had the pleasure of sharing this wonderful event with were:
Tom Ashe, associate chair of the Master of Professional studies in Digital Photography at the School of Visual Arts and his boyfriend Aaron Dai, a gifted pianist and composer. Aaron will be premiering a new composition for The Chelsea Symphony Friday, January 24, 2014 at 8:30 pm and Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 7:30 pm. The event will be held at St. Paul's Church, 315 West 22nd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues.)
Julie Simpkins, a wonderful friend I met at Laumont Framing in New York City. On top of providing great service on framing my fine art prints for exhibitions, she is also a talented painter.
Glenn Reed, an amazing sculptor, avid sailor, and good friend who recently had a piece in a show at Noho Gallery / M55 Art. I met Glenn through working with Manjari Sharma on her solo exhibition at Clamp Art. Glenn brought his lovely wife Heather as well, a psychologist, which always guarantees interesting conversation. Heather is also an amateur competitive sailor, and good friend of mine.
Stella Kramer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo editor and creator of Stellazine. I met Stella when she was instructing the course “Professional Communication Essentials” at SVA. Since then, I’ve been enchanted with Stella not only professionally, with her vast knowledge of photography, but personally as well.
Amanda Joy Fortier
Amanda Fortier, my beloved wife, who is an incredible Chef and enjoys entertaining with me. Thank you so much for preparing such a delicious meal for us! Amanda worked weeks in advance to test the items on the menu and make sure that everything went flawlessly.
This was the menu for the evening:
First Course
Radicchio and butter lettuce salad with champagne vinaigrette, blood oranges, hazelnuts
Main Course
Polenta steaks with winter roasted vegetable torte, sundried tomato pesto
Dessert
Almond cake with poached figs, mascarpone vanilla bean cream