On November 18th The Knockturnal was on the scene at the French Heritage Society Gala at midtown’s chic Pierre Hotel.
The gala honored Juan Pablo Molyneux and Champagne Taittinger, represented by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, with a festive Gala that included an elegant dinner with music and dancing to the sounds of The Bob Hardwick Sound, and raised over $340,000.
In light of the terrors in Paris this past week, the evening band played the French national anthem while the entire room stood in “solidarité and fraternité” with Paris. The annual gala was more somber this year after the Paris attacks, but the event was still festive as everyone in attendance celebrated France from their hearts and souls. We spoke with Isabelle Lefebvre Vary- the Executive Director of the French Heritage Society about the night’s mood who said:
“I think everone is really happy to be here to celebrate and the world and life go on and that we’re going to fight. The American people are sticking to the French community and its very good to be here – as a French person I feel deeply deeply touched.”
The event was held under the High Patronage of His Excellency Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France to the U.S., His Excellency François Delattre, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations; The Honorable Bertrand Lortholary, Consul General of France in New York; and Bénédicte de Montlaur, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in the United States.
Proceeds from the event support the important work FHS does to raise and make grants to restore French architectural gems in both countries, and to educate students, young professionals and the general public about these historic treasures through its cultural educational programs and communications.
The French Heritage Society was founded in 1982 as a two way street for Americans and French to share their love of historic architecture. FHS has contributed to almost 500 restoration grants and helped secure almost $18 million dollars for historic monuments, buildings and gardens in every department in France and to properties in the United States that reflect France’s historic influence.
Visit http://frenchheritagesociety.org/ for more information.
