The unveiling of a replica FIFA World Cup Trophy, made entirely from LEGO bricks, at Rockefeller Center was almost disrupted by a raccoon. The varmint climbed to the top of a lighting truss and hunkered down, sources tell the News.
The city’s crack animal rescue team humanely relocated the cute raccoon, who workers nicknamed Rocket after the rascal in “The Avengers” movies.
Lighting guru Bentley Meeker created the illumination and sound for the Fan Village space in the ice skating rink space, so fans could watch Lionel Messi, Guillermo Ochoa and Erling Haaland on the jumbotron.
Meeker said, “We have offered Rocket a job because he is such a good climber.”
FIFA legend Cafu, the Brazilian soccer star who won two World Cups in 1998 and 2002, joined fans at the unveiling.
Laughs in the Hamptons
Comedy queen Caroline Hirsch took her yuks on the road for a one night show at Southampton’s Playhouse.
New York Comedy Festival darlings Jaye McBride, Maddy Smith and Jason Choi came out from Manhattan for the sold-out show.
“This is the first of a collaboration with the great Caroline Hirsch,” Artistic Director Eric Kohn told the well-healed crowd.
Choi chided the room about the Hamptons bubble. “You guys are probably wondering why Diddy isn’t out here. ‘Where’s he been? We haven’t seen him all summer.’”
Emcee and former Caroline’s On Broadway regular Bill McCuddy praised the “reasonable restaurants in Southampton,” to chuckles. “This summer Saint Ambroeus is offering 3.9 percent financing for up to 72 months.” More punchlines to come.
Caroline Hirsch is pictured on Dec. 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Garden party
Billionaire financier John Paulson and his fiancée Alina de Almeida joined a group of art lovers at the Southampton Arts Center (SAC) to celebrate the opening of The Paulson Family Gardens.
The couple, joined by Simone and David Levinson and Southampton Village Mayor Bill Manger, gave $3.4 million to support the preservation and reimagination of the gardens.
“The exquisite building that now houses the Southampton Arts Center, together with its adjoining gardens, was originally designed in 1898 by Grosvenor Atterbury, one of America’s foremost architects,” Paulson said.
“This 2.7-acre site sits at the heart of our village and is a crucial part of its heritage.”
Landscape architect Chris LaGuardia is overseeing the restoration.
John Paulson and Alina de Almeida attend Angel Ball 2022 hosted by Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation at Cipriani Wall Street on Oct. 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
250th Celebration
Composer Karen LeFrak rang in America’s 250th Anniversary at the New York Philharmonic, which performed her orchestral work “American Promise” at the Wu Tsai Theater in Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall.
The piece was conducted by Maestro Eduardo Marturet, with violinist Amaryn Olmeda, who wore a gown inspired by the US flag and American folk art quilts, and narrated by CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez.
LeFrak took the stage for the traditional bow, garnering a standing ovation for the piece.
The concert was followed by a VIP reception for LeFrak that included her husband Richard LeFrak, Francine LeFrak and Rick Friedberg, Park Magazine’s co-founder R. Couri Hay, and DuJour’s Jason Binn.
Also in the concert hall were Quest’s David Patrick Columbia, Dr. Kenneth Mark, and attorneys Arthur Aidala and Marianne Bertuna.
Josh Groban, who has sold over 35 million albums worldwide, and Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of the group Korn, will both perform with Japanese rock star Yoshiki in Hollywood.
The musical superstars will take to the stage at Yoshiki’s two-day concert at LA’s Disney Hall on July 16 and 17.
Yoshiki has also performed with Bono, Diana Ross, and the Jonas Brothers, to name a few.
Carrie Coon lauded. Strahan plays
“The Gilded Age” star Carrie Coon, who was nominated for Lead Actress at the Tony Awards in June for her performance in “Bug,” will be honored at the Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper charity’s benefit next winter in Palm Beach.
The organization just received a $585k grant to provide support, including rent, childcare, food, and travel to medical appointments, to those battling ovarian cancer in South Florida.
The charity’s director, Jennifer McGrath, said, “We will now be able to expand our services 14 times through our Angel Fund.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved the funding request.
“Good Morning America” star Michael Strahan has joined the lineup to hit the links at Herb Karlitz’s 7th Annual Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament at Montclair Golf Club in NJ on August 3.
Carrie Coon, left, and Micheal Strahan. (Getty Images)
A torrential downpour and flash floods forced the event, which benefits City Harvest, to postpone the original date in June.
Ja Rule tore up his schedule so he could still perform at the benefit, which will feature 130 top chefs and athletes, including Marcus Samuelsson and Rao’s Dino Gatto.
Karlitz’s benefit has raised enough money to allow City Harvest to provide 5 million meals over the past six years. The event marketer said, “My goal this year is to reach 6 million meals!”
70 is the new 50
Dr. Michael Hall, author of “Infinite Youth: Solving the Aging Equation,” believes in vitamins and supplements and drugs.
“I take so many things, I’d have to send you a list,” the doctor told me. “It’s 40 different things.”
Hall, who says “70 is the new 50,” thinks people can live to 120 or 130.
“We’ve been taught that aging is a sentence — handed down by our genes, served out year after year, beyond appeal. It’s not,” he said. “How you age is not a fate, but a variable. And variables can be changed.”