FRENCH à la CITÉ & FRENCH à la CAMPAGNE

— Every year Jean Shafiroff throws an exclusive luncheon to celebrate Bastille Day, July 14. What’s to celebrate? Basically, Bastille Day was “No Kings Day”  1789, when French citizens, inspired by the American Revolution, attacked the hated Bastille. The Bastille prison was a symbol of the ruling class. (Voltaire was locked in it for 11 months for writing a satyrical verse about the Duke of Orleans and his daughter) After its destruction, pieces of the Bastille were distributed as symbols of an expected arrival of “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.” That took ten years.

Jean Shafiroff, a trustee at the French Heritage Society (Photo by Madeleine Thomas/BFA.com)

Still, a party. The Maison Barnes Restaurant in Manhattan offers multiple dining options, from the Baccarat Bar, with standing room for 40, some smaller celler and private rooms and the Art Deco Cafe Boulud with seating for up to 90.  Jean Shafiroff’s guests enjoyed Daniel Boulud’s exquisite menu for the day in one of the private rooms.

The hostess Jean Shafiroff with Nicole Miller and Pamela Wright.  (Photo by Madeleine Thomas/BFA.com)

They included Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Barbara Tober, Julia Haart, NY State Assemblywoman Rebecca Seawright, Ramona Singer, Bill McCuddy, Valerie Steele, Leesa Rowland, Ruth LaFerla and the fashion designers Nicole Miller, Malan Breton, Victor de Souza, Vanessa Noel, Nabys Vielman and Kokin.

Ramona Singer, Leesa Rowland and Ann Van Ness. (Photo by Madeleine Thomas/BFA.com)

Others were Alex Hamer, Nicole Salmasi, David Hochberg, Pamela Wright, Maria Fishel, Maribel Lieberman, Matt Rich, Ann Van Ness, Roy Kean and Susan Gutfreund.

Maribel Lieberman, of MarieBelle New York, at the luncheon (Photo: BFA / Madeleine Thomas)

A Summer Soirée

Poolside at Kenneth and Maria Fishel’s estate in Bridgehampton (photo credit: Andrew Werner)

Ladies brought out their long dresses, and fellas put on their sports coats and white slacks for the third annual Summer Soirée at the home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel in Bridgehampton, NY. You will see some names repeated here, from what you just read above. That’s because those folks at the French Heritage Society have homes in both city and country. (They go to France, too.)

Bradley, Alexandra, Henry, Maria and Kenneth Fishel (Photo credit: Andrew Werner)

Luckily, July 18 was a perfect Friday night around the Fishel’s pool. The evening had the generous support of DESTREE, rosé wine from Whispering Angel, and table settings by Christofle. Revel Rouge curated the event, and vocalist Jennifer Jade Ledesna performed a tribute to Josephine Baker’s French-American legacy.

Ramona Singer (Photo by Andrew Werner)

The evening’s host committee was CeCe Black, Maria Fishel, Rosann Gutman, and Ann Van Ness. Guests included Jean Shafiroff, Pamela Morgan,  Nancy Stone, Nabys Vielman, Ruth Miller, Louise Braver, Sylvia Hemingway, Lauren Roberts, Nicole Salmasi, Ramona Singer, Paula and Robert Smalley, Andrea Wernick and Pamela Wright.

Bill and Ann Van Ness (Photo by Andrew Werner)

The lovely evening raised money to help the French Heritage society support French architectural and cultural heritage for future generations. There were announcements about future Heritage Society events, a Chairman’s Circle trip to Normandy in September, the New York Gala Dinner Dance in November, and a Gala in Palm Beach in February.

Jean Shafiroff (Photo by Andrew Werner)

Membership to the French Heritage Society is open to anyone with interest in French culture and landmarks. The organization was founded 43 years ago. Since then it has awarded more than $16 million to 700 restoration and cultural grants. Those include properties throughout France and in the United States. The society has also selected and supported nearly 600 university students who have crossed the Atlantic for internships at esteemed institutions. It has 11 chapters, 10 in the U.S. and one in Paris, and membership includes access to all.